THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GEORGE   WHITEFIELD: 

A  BIOGRAPHY, 


SPECIAL  REFERENCE  TO  HIS  LABORS 
IN  AMERICA. 


COMPILED 

BY  JOSEPH  BELCHER,  D.  D., 

AUTHOR  OP   THE   LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   CARET,   MISSIONARY   TO   INDIA, 
ETC,,   ETC. 


PUBLISHED   BT  THE 
AMERICAN   TRACT   SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


-~  •' 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

MORAL   STATE    OF   GREAT   BRITAIN   IN  THE    EARLY 
PART    OF    THE    EIGHTEENTH    CENTURY  — WHITE- 
FIELD,  FROM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON. 
1714-1736. 

Low  state  of  religion  in  Great  Britain  and  its  dependencies  when 
Whitefield  appeared — His  birth  in  Gloucester — Hooper — Raikes 
— Whitefield's  early  life— His  entrance  at  the  university  of  Ox- 
ford— Becomes  connected  with  the  Wesleys  and  other  Method- 
ists—Illness and  mental  trials— Relief— Preparation  for  the  min- 
istry— Return  to  Gloucester — Ordination — First  sermon 13 

CHAPTER  II. 

WHITEFIELD'S   SUCCESS    AS    A    PREACHER    IN   ENG- 
LAND—FIRST VISIT  TO  AMERICA. 

1736-1738 

Whitefield's  return  to  Oxford— Usefulness  there— Visits  London- 
Great  popularity— Georgia— His  anxiety  as  to  duty— Invited  to 
Georgia  by  the  Wesleys — Preparation  and  departure — Preaching 
and  excitement  at  Deal— Labors  and  success  on  board— Arrival 
and  labors  at  Gibraltar — Interesting  incidents  on  the  voyage — 
Sickness  and  recovery — His  reception  at  Savannah — Visit  to  an 
Indian  king — Origin  of  the  Orphan  asylum — Visit  to  Frederica — 
Return  to  Savannah — Visit  to  Charleston — Treatment  by  Gar- 
den—Embarkation for  Europe — Stormy  voyage — Arrival  in  Lim- 
erick— Journey  to  London — Meeting  with  the  trustees  of  Geor- 
gia—Ordination as  priest— Return  to  London— First  extempore 
prayer— First  idea  of  open-air  preaching -40 

CHAPTER  III. 

OPEN-AIR   PREACHING    IN    ENGLAND    AND   WALES- 
ERECTION  OF  THE  TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON. 

1738,    1739. 

Whitefield's  visit  to  Bristol— New  opposition— Interviews  with  the 
chancellor  of  the  diocese — Preaching  at  Kingswood — Large  con- 
gregations— Preaching  at  Bristol — Labors  in  Wales  with  Howel 
Harris— Gloucester-  -Old  Mr.  Cole — Return  to  London — Conflict 


4  CONTENTS. 

with  Bishop  Warburton  and  others— Moorfields— Kennington 
Common-Blackheath-Anecdotes-Erection  of  the  Tabernacle 
-New  Tabernacle-Certificate— Visit  to  Norwich— ConvenHon 
of  Robert  Robinson— Preaching  at  the  West  End  of  London- 
Liberality  of  Whitefield's  congregations— Attendance  of  the  no- 
bility on  Whitefield's  ministry— Architecture  of  Tabernacle  and 
Tottenham  Court  road  chapel 71 

CHAPTER  IV. 

WHITEFIELD'S  SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA. 

1739,   1740. 

Joseph  Periam's  release  by  Whitefield  from  Bedlam— Whitefield's 
arrival  at  Philadelphia— Preaches  to  vast  crowds  in  the  open 
air_Testimony  of  Dr.  Franklin  and  others— Account  of  the  Log 

College William  Tennent,  Sen. — Whitefield's  own  account  of 

his  preaching  at  Philadelphia — Subsequent  discovery  of  the  con- 
Tersion  of  Dr.  Rodgers — Whitefield's  first  visit  to  New  York — 
Description  of  him  by  one  of  his  hearers — Sermons  in  New  Jer- 

eey Old  Tennent  church — Places  of  preaching  at  New  York — 

Address  to  sailors — Letter  to  Pemberton — Interview  with  Gil- 
bert Tennent— Some  of  Whitefield's  sermons  printed— Departure 
from  Philadelphia — Sermons  on  his  journey  to  Savannah — Arri- 
val and  reception  at  Charleston — Departure  for  Savannah — Dan- 
gers of  the  way— State  of  things  in  Georgia— Wrhitefield  revisits 
Charleston — Controversy  with  Commissary  Garden — Lays  the 
foundation-stone  of  the  Orphan  house — Sermon  by  Smith  on  the 
character  of  Whitefield 97 

CHAPTER  V. 

CONTINUATION  OF  HIS  SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA. 

1740. 

Feebleness  of  Whitefield's  health— Again  visits  Charleston,  Phila- 
delphia, etc. — Extent  of  his  former  success — Extracts  from  Sew- 
ard's  journal — Extracts  from  newspapers— Whitefield's  letter  to 
England — His  correspondence  on  marriage — Birth  and  death  of 
his  son — His  funeral  sermon  for  his  wife — Franklin  and  others 
on  Whitefield's  eloquence — Anecdote — Extract  from  the  New 
England  Weekly  Journal — Return  to  Savannah — Manner  of  his 
reception — Activity  at  Savannah — Again  visits  Charleston — 
Cited  into  the  Commissary's  court — Various  examinations — 
Whitefield's  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Chancery — Interview  with 
the  Commissary-  Usefulness  at  Charleston —Sails  for  New  Eng- 
lan<* ----- 129 


CONTENTS.  5 

CHAPTER  VI. 

WHITE^IELD'S  FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND. 
SEPTEMBER  TO  NOVEMBER,  1740. 

State  of  religion  in  New  England — Testimony  of  Prince — Dr.  I. 
Mather — Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards'  success — Prevalence  of  prayer — 
Whitefield's  arrival  and  labors  at  Newport — Interview  with 
Clap — Honeyman — Letter  from  Barber — Journey  to  Boston — 
Interview  with  the  Commissary  and  the  clergy — Preaches  at 
Brattle-street,  Old  South  church,  New  North,  Common,  Rox- 
bury,  Old  North,  Cambridge,  First  church — Interview  with  Gov- 
ernor- Belcher— Roxbury— Hollis-street— Old  South  church— 
Brattle-street  —  Marblehead  —  Salem  —  Ipswich  —  Newbury  — 
Hampton — Portsmouth — York  —  Return  to  Boston — Frequent 
preaching — Invitation  to  children — Interesting  conversation  with 
a  child — Anecdote  of  juvenile  usefulness — Remarks  on  an  uncon- 
verted ministry — Whitefield's  character  of  Boston — Preaches  at 
Concord,  Sudbury,  Marlborough,  Worcester,  Leicester,  Brook- 
field.  Cold  Spring,  Hadley,  Northampton — Revival  there — White- 
field's  opinion  of  Mr.  Edwards  and  family — Important  interview 
—Preaching  at  East  Windsor,  Westfield,  Springfield,  Suffield— 
Opinion  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards,  Sen. — Relinquishment  of 
appointments  to  preach — Visit  to  New  Haven — Interview  with 
Principal  Clap — Departure  from  New  England — Whitefield's 
character  of  it — Conversion  of  Mr.  Emerson — Prince's  account  of 
Whitefield's  visit— Dr.  Baron  Stow  on  its  results— Anecdote,  148 

CHAPTER  VII. 

LABORS  IN  NEW  YORK  AND  THE  MIDDLE  AND  SOUTH- 
ERN STATES. 
1740,  1741. 

Whitefield's  arrival  and  labors  at  New  York.  Staten  Island,  and 
Newark— Mr.  Burr— Meeting  with  Gilbert  Tennent— Visit  to 
Baskinridge — Tennent's  preaching  in  Cross'  barn — Whiteficld 
preaches  in  the  new  house  at  Philadelphia — Franklin's  advice  to 
Gilbert  Tennent — Remarkable  instances  of  conversion — Success 
in  Philadelphia — Apostrophe  in  a  sermon — Visit  to  Gloucester, 
Greenwich,  Cohansey,  Salem,  Newcastle,  Fagg's  Manor,  Bohe- 
mia— Sails  from  Reedy  island  to  Charleston — Arrival  at  Bethes- 
da — Remarkable  escape  from  death — Prosecution  at  Charleston 
—Preaching— Letters  from  Boston— Departure  for  England- 
Separation  from  Messrs.  Wesley— Difficulties  in  London— Tri- 
umph— Howel  Harris- - 196 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

FIRST  AND  SECOND  VISITS  TO  SCOTLAND-^LABORS 
IN  ENGLAND  AND  WALES. 

1741-1744. 

Scheme  of  comprehension— Account  of  Rev.  John  Cennick— Voy- 
age to  Scotland— Letter  to  Rodgers— Visit  to  Erskine— Preach- 
ing in  Edinburgh— Labors  at  Glasgow— His  sermons  printed— 
Return  to  England— Letter  from  McCulloch— Renewed  glance 
at  Edinburgh— Public  attention  deeply  riveted— Execution  of 

a  convict Improvement  of  the  event  in  a  sermon — Conversion 

of  a  mimic— A  drunken  sergeant— Miss  Hunter— Marquis  of 
Lothian— Conduct  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ogilvie— Second  visit  to  Scot- 
land— Cambuslang— Kilmarnock— Glance  at  subsequent  visits— 
Orphan-house  park,  Edinburgh— Glasgow— Increasing  reputa- 
tion  Extracts  from  letters — Anecdotes — Visit  to  Wales — Let- 
ters from  America— Visit  to  Gloucester,  Strand,  Tewkesbury— 
Encouraging  news  from  America — Success  in  London — Awaken- 
ing at  the  Tabernacle — Visit  to  Gloucester  and  its  neighborhood 
—South  Wales— Return  to  London— Bristol— Exeter— Mr. 
Saunders — Conversion  of  Thomas  Olivers — Birmingham — Kid- 
derminster— Health — Assizes  at  Gloucester — Plymouth — Deliv- 
erance from  assassination — Conversion  of  Mr.  Tanner — Visits  to 
the  poor — Anecdote — Embarkation  for  America 222 

CHAPTER  IX. 

WHITEFIELD'S  SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND. 

1744,    1745. 

Incidents  of  the  voyage  from  England — Prayer  heard — General 
alarm— Whitefield's  illness— Arrival  at  York— Threatening 
sickness — Rev.  Mr.  Moody — Preaching  at  York  and  Portsmouth 
— Apparent  danger  of  death — Departure  for  Boston — Constant 
preaching  there  —  Chelsea — Maiden — Prince's  account  of  his 
'  preaching  and  conduct— Objections  made  to  his  administration 
of  the  Lord's  supper — Changes  in  New  England — Opposition  to 
Whitefield  in  Connecticut,  New  Haven,  Massachusetts,  Harvard 
College — Large  meeting  in  his  favor  at  Boston — Number  of  sig- 
natures to  the  testimony — Progress  of  revival — Proceedings  of 
Harvard  College— Whitefleld's  defence— Subsequent  act  of  the 
College — Expositions  at  Boston,  Ipswich,  Portland,  Exeter — Ex- 
pedition' against  Cape  Breton — Sherburne's  request — Sermon  to 
the  soldiers — Refusal  of  chaplaincy — Conversion  of  a  colored 
trumpoter— Of  a  noted  scoffer— Anecdote  of  Whitefleld  and  Dr. 
Hopkins - 254 


CONTENTS.  7 

CHAPTER  X. 

LABORS  IN  THE  MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES— 

THE  BERMUDAS. 

1745-1748. 

Whitefield's  preaching  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Philadelphia — 
Liberal  offer  declined — Usefulness  of  his  printed  sermons  in  Vir- 
ginia— Preaches  at  Hanover — Isaac  Oliver — Visit  to  Bethesda — 
His  account  of  the  Orphan-house — His  character  as  given  by  the 
New  York  Post-boy — Public  testimony  as  to  Whitefield's  integ- 
rity— Preaching  tour  in  Maryland — Visit  to  Charleston — Success 
of  his  preaching  in  Maryland — Visits  New  York,  Newport,  Ports- 
mouth, Boston — Return  to  Philadelphia — Bohemia — Journey  to 
North  Carolina — Embarkation  for  the  Bermudas — His  progress 
and  labors — Honored  by  the  governor  and  others — Usefulness 
among  the  negroes — Summary  of  his  proceedings  in  the  Bermu- 
das—Kindness of  the  people  there— Voyage  to  England— His  la- 
bors on  the  voyage — Arrival  at  Deal - 277 

CHAPTER  XI. 

LABORS  IN  ENGLAND  AND  SCOTLAND— CHAPLAIN 
TO  LADY  HUNTING-DON. 

1748,   1749. 

Triumphs  and  trials  in  London — Becomes  chaplain  to  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon — Complimented  by  the  great — Bolingbroke  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Church — Rev.  James  Hervey — Honors  conferred  on 
Whitefield— Falsehoods  of  Horace  Walpole— Charged  with  vul- 
garism— Defence — Third  visit  to  Scotland — Return  to  London — 
Visit  to  the  west  of  England— Conversions  in  Gloucestershire — 
Tour  in  Cornwall— Brilliant  assemblies  in  London — Excursion  to 
Exeter  and  Plymouth — Rev.  Andrew  Kinsman — Return  to  Lon- 
don— Decline  of  health  and  visit  to  Portsmouth  and  "Wales — 
Arrival  of  Mrs.  Whitefield  from  the  Bermudas— Visit  to  the  north 
of  England — Popularity  there — Intensely  interesting  services — 
Rev.  W.  Grimshawe — Solemn  instances  of  mortality — Return  to 
London  for  the  winter — Usefulness - - 301 

CHAPTER  XII. 

LABORS  IN  aRE AT  BRITAIN— FOURTH  VISIT  TO  AMER- 
ICA—NEW TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON,  AND  TABER- 
NACLE AT  BRISTOL. 

1750-1754. 

Efforts  made  by  Whitefield  for  Bethesda— His  ardent  love  for  Amer- 
ica— Love  to  his  mother — His  mourning  for  sin — Dr.  Doddridge 


CONTENTS. 

—London  ministers— Interview  with  Doddridge  and  Hervey— 
Earthquake  in  London— Bishop  Home's  sermon— Universal  con- 
sternation—Preaching of  Whitefield  at  midnight  in  Hyde  park— 
Whitefleld  and  his  friends  at  Court — Journey  to  Bristol— Taun- 
ton— Rev.  R.  Darracott— Preaching  at  Rotherham,  Bolton,  Ul- 
verston— Conversion  of  Mr.  Thorpe  —  Edinburgh  and  other 
places  in  Scotland — Testimony  of  Hume — Second  visit  to  Ire- 
land—Opposition on  Oxmantown  Green— Usefulness  in  Ireland 

Rev.  John  Edwards — Fourth  voyage  to  America — Interview 

with  Lady  Huntingdon — Moravians — Lady  Huntingdon's  testi- 
mony— Letter  to  Dr.  Franklin — Itinerant  labors — Revision  of 
manuscripts — Erection  of  the  new  Tabernacle — Again  itinerates 
— Dedication  of  the  Tabernacle  at  Bristol — Somersetshire — Con- 
dolence on  Mr.  Wesley's  sickness— Visit  of  Messrs.  Davies  and 
Tennent  to  England— Whitefield's  fifth  voyage  to  America- -323 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FIFTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA-RENEWED  LABORS  IN 
GREAT  BRITAIN  — TOTTENHAM  COURT-ROAD  CHAP- 
EL. 

1754-1763. 

Whitefield's  arrival  and  proceedings  in  Lisbon — Lands  at  Beaufort, 
S.  C.— Voyage  to  New  York— New  Jersey— Interview  with  Will- 
iam Tennent — Accompanies  President  Burr  to  New  England — 
Popularity  at  Boston — Correspondence  with  Habersham — Ports- 
mouth— Rhode  Island — Franklin's  narrative  of  a  drummer  and 
Whitefield — Powerful  address  in  Virginia — Pleasant  interview 
at  Charleston— Embarks  for  England— Arrival  at  New  Haven— 
His  feelings  on  arriving  in  England — Labors  at  the  Tabernacle — 
Love  for  America— Journey  to  Bristol,  Gloucestershire,  Nor- 
wich— Returns  to  London — Reproof  from  Grimshawe — Serious 
illness— Earthquake  at  Lisbon— Tottenham  Court-road  Chapel- 
Conversion  of  Mr.  Crane— Publication  of  "A  short  Address"— 
Personal  character  of  Whitefield's  preaching— His  servant— Shu- 
ter — Violent  persecution — Interference  of  government — Journey 
to  Bristol— Lines  on  a  chair— Journey  to  Kent,  north  of  Eng- 
land, Scotland— Meeting  at  Leeds— Interview  with  the  new  gov- 
ernor of  Georgia— Prosperity  of  Tottenham  Court— Journey  to 
Scotland— Ireland— Returns  to  London— 111  health— Anecdote— 
Another  visit  to  Scotland— Death  of  friends— Debts  of  Bethesda 
paid— Renewed  visit  to  Scotland— Visit  to  Brighton— Foote's 
mimicry— Activity— Sails  on  his  sixth  voyage  to  America-- -350 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

SIXTH  VISIT  AND  LABORS  IN  AMERICA— RENEWED 
LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

1763-1767. 

Improvement  of  Whitefield's  health — Friends  in  Virginia — Proceed- 
ings in  Philadelphia — New  Jersey — A  collegiate  hearer — New 
York — Letter  from  Boston  Gazette — Opposition  of  Seabury — 
Arrival  and  preaching  at  Boston — Public  thanks  to  him — Leaves 
Boston— New  Haven— New  York— New  Jersey  College— Phila- 
delphia— Virginia — South  Carolina — Bethesda — Proceedings  of 
the  government — Prosperity  of  the  Orphan-house — Thoughts  of 
returning  to  England — Still  detained  in  America — Sails  for 
England — Arrival  there — Dedicates  a  church  at  Bath — Returns 
to  London — Sickness — Interest  in  American  affairs — Rev.  Sam- 
son Occum — Labors  with  Mr.  Whitaker  in  England — Success — 
Whitefield's  journey  to  Bristol — Success  in  London — Mr.  Joss 
becomes  his  colleague — Rev.  Rowland  Hill — Whitefield  again 
visits  Bath  and  Bristol — Mr.  Fletcher's  sermons  in  London — Pref- 
ace to  Bunyan's  works — Whitefleld  in  Wales  and  Gloucester- 
shire— North  of  England — Disappointed  in  obtaining  a  char- 
ter for  Bethesda 375 

CHAPTER  XV. 

HIS  LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN  —  COLLEGE 
AT  TREVECCA— EARL  OF  BUCHAN—  TUNBRIDGE 
WELLS. 

1767-1769. 

Letter  to  Keen— Whitefield  preaches  before  the  Book  Society— 
Change  in  his  style  and  manner  of  preaching — Expulsion  of  six 
students  from  Oxford— Whiteneld's  letter  to  the  Vice-chancel- 
lor— Usefulness  of  the  expelled  young  men — Letter  to  a  gentle- 
man at  Wisbeach— To  Captain  Scott— To  Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter 
Shirley — Death  and  funeral  services  of  the  Earl  of  Buchan — 
Whiteneld's  last  visit  to  Edinburgh— Death  of  Mrs.  Whitefield-- 
Whitefield's  own  sickness — Dedication  of  the  college  at  Trevec- 
ca— Improvement  of  his  health — Letter  to  Mr.  Shirley — Letter 
of  Dr.  Franklin  to  Whitefield— Whitefield's  remarks  on  it— Ded- 
ication of  church  at  Tunbridge  Wells — Contemplated  voyage  to 
America — His  last  sermon — Account  of  Rev.  George  Burder — 
Messrs.  Wilson— Embarkation  of  Whitefield— Detained  in  the 
Downs — Ordination  and  preaching  at  Deal — Anecdote  of  Dr. 

Gibbons — Clears  the  Channel — Arrival  at  Charleston 400 

1* 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SEVENTH  VISIT  AND  LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA- 

DEATH. 
1769,   1770. 

Arrival  at  Bethesda— Its  prosperity— Honors  paid  him  by  the  legis- 
lature—Letter at  Charleston— Plan  of  the  proposed  college- 
Visits  Philadelphia — Preaches  at  Burlington,  New  York,  Albany 

Attends  an  execution — Visit  to  Sharon— Conversion  of  Mr. 

Randall— Visit  to  Boston— Letters  to  Messrs.  Wright  and  Keen 
—Letter  in  Pennsylvania  Journal— Arrival  at  Exeter— Anec- 
dote—Vast  congregation— Delivers  his  last  sermon— Account  of 
it— His  solemnly  interesting  appearance— Rodgers'  Journal- 
Journey  of  Whitefield  to  Newburyport— Alarming  illness  — 
Death — His  remarks  to  Dr.  Finley — Arrangements  for  the  funer- 
al— its  solemn  services — Cenotaph 423 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

TESTIMONIES  AND  FACTS  ILLUSTRATIVE  OF  WHITE- 
FIELD'S  CHARACTER. 

Funeral  sermon  by  Dr.  Cooper — Respect  shown  to  his  memory  in 
Georgia— Whitefield  county— Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ellington- 
Arrival  of  the  news  in  London — Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  Wesley — 
Rev.  John  Newton — Anecdote — Reply  of  Bacon  the  sculptor — 
Visits  to  his  tomb— Old  man  in  Ipswich— Whitefield's  indifference 
to  his  reputation  and  ease — Institution  at  Georgia — Laborious 
life— Extraordinary  voice — Use  of  common  facts — Anecdotes — 
His  solemnity  of  manner — Testimony  of  an  American  preacher — 
Of  Winter — Anecdotes — Sermons  in  storms — Appearance  in  the 
pulpit — Character  of  his  printed  sermons — His  devotional  spirit — 
Visiting  the  sick — Intercourse  with  society — Neatness 445 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

•  CHARACTER  OF  WHITEFIELD  AS  A  PREACHER— CEN- 
TENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS. 

Prominence  given  by  him  to  the  truths  of  salvation — His  ardent 
glow  of  feeling — His  direct  address — His  habitual  dependence  on 
the  Spirit  of  God — Dealt  with  men  as  immortal  beings — Dr. 
Hamilton's  estimate  of  Whitefield — Comparison  of  Whitefield  and 
Wesley — Centennial  commemorations — Hymns  by  Mr.  Conder — 
Usefulness — Bristol  Tabernacle — Mr.  James'  sermon — Character 
of  Whitefield's  ministry,  by  Mr.  Glanville 479 


PREFACE. 


THE  excellent  Matthew  Henry  has  very  truly  said, 
"  There  are  remains  of  great  and  good  men,  which, 
like  Elijah's  mantle,  ought  to  be  gathered  up  ana  pre- 
served by  the  survivors — their  sayings,  their  writings, 
their  examples  j  that  as  their  works  follow  them  in 
the  reward  of  them,  they  may  stay  behind  in  the  ben- 
efit of  them." 

Influenced  by  this  and  kindred  sentiments,  the 
compiler  of  this  volume  has  devoted  no  small  labor 
to  gather  from  every  source  to  which  he  could  gain 
access,  whatever  appeared  to  him  important  to  be 
known  respecting  the  most  distinguished  uninspired 
preacher  perhaps  of  any  age  or  country.  Whatever 
may  be  the  faults  of  the  work,  to  use  the  language  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Campbell,  one  of  the  present  pastors  of 
Whitefield's  churches  in  London, .in  reference  to  a 
short  sketch  he  had  himself  prepared  of  our  great 
evangelist,  "It  will  serve  to  bring  him  and  his  apos- 
tolic labors  before  the  minds  of  vast  multitudes  of 
the  rising  generation,  to  whom  both  are  all  but  un- 
known ;  and  this  is  far  from  unimportant.  What- 
ever tends  to  fix  the  minds  of  men  afresh  upon  the 
character  of  WHITEFIELD  is,  and  it  always  will  be, 
something  gained  to  the  cause  of  true  religion.  The 
contemplation  of  that  character  is  one  of  the  most 
healthful  exercises  that  can  occupy  a  Christian  heart, 


- 

12  PREFACE. 

or  a  Christian  understanding.  It  is  an  admirable 
theme  for  ministerial  meditation.  It  tends  equally  to 
humble,  to  instruct,  and  to  encourage  ;  to  excite  love 
to  Christ,  zeal  for  his  glory,  and  compassion  for  the 
souls  of  men.  What  Alexander  and  Caesar,  Charles 
XII.  of  Sweden  and  Napoleon  the  first,  are  to  those 
of  the  sons  of  men  who  have  not  yet  ceased  to  '  learn 
war,'  that  Whitefield  and  Wesley  are  to  those  who 
aspire  to  eminent  usefulness  as  ministers  and  mission- 
aries of  the  cross." 

In  the  preparation  of  this  memoir,  the  compiler 
has  sought  to  collect  together  incidents  which  might 
interest  and  instruct,  especially  in  connection  with 
Whitefield's  labors  in  America;  to  present  him  as 
much  as  possible  in  his  own  dress ;  and  to  use  the 
facts  of  his  life  to  excite  and  cherish  his  own  spirit, 
so  far  as  he  had  the  spirit  of  Christ.  Facts  reflect- 
ing on  the  reputation  and  feelings  of  others  have 
been  used  only  as  the  interests  of  truth  seemed  to 
demand. 

It  would  have  been  easy  to  place  on  almost  every 
page  an  array  of  authorities,  and  to  give  here  a  long 
list  of  friends  to  whom  the  writer  has  been  indebted 
for  aid ;  but  the  sole  object  of  the  volume  is  the  honor 
of  Christ  in  the  salvation  of  men,  and  that  this  may 
be  accomplished,  we  pray  that  the  blessing  of  Heaven 
may  rest  upon  it. 

PHILADELPHIA,  1857. 


GEORGE  WHITEFIELD, 


CHAPTER  I. 

MORAL  STATE  OF  GREAT  BEITAIN  IN  THE  EARLY 
PART  OF  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY— WHITE- 
FIELD  FROM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON. 

THAT  we  may  have  a  clear  and  comprehensive  view 
of  the  labors  and  success  of  George  Whitefield,  it  is 
important  that  we  consider  the  moral  condition  of 
Great  Britain  and  its  dependencies  when  the  Head  of 
the  church  brought  him  on  the  field  of  action.  The 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  and  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  centuries  presented  in  that  country  a  scene 
of  moral  darkness,  the  more  remarkable  as  it  so  soon 
succeeded  the  triumph  of  evangelical  truth  which  dis- 
tinguished the  seventeenth  century,  and  which  is  per- 
petuated in  a  religious  literature  that  will  bless  the 
world.  Causes  had  long  been  at  work  which  pro- 
duced such  insensibility  and  decline  as  to  all  that  is 
good,  and  such  a  bold  and  open  activity  in  evil,  as  it 
is  hoped  the  grace  of  God  may  avert  from  his  churches 
in  all  future  time.  The  doctrine  of  the  divine  right 
of  kings  to  implicit  obedience  on  the  part  of  their  sub- 
jects ;  the  principle  of  priestly  control  of  the  minds  of 
men  in  religious  matters ;  and  clerical  influence,  sus- 


14  GEORGE  WHITEPIELD. 

tained  by  kingly  authority,  in  favor  of  sports  on  the 
Lord's  day,  together  with  the  evil  examples  of  men  high 
in  rank  and  power,  had  produced  their  natural  results 
on  the  masses  of  the  people,  and  make  it  painful,  even 
at  this  distant  period,  to  survey  the  scene. 

Nor  were  these  all  the  evils  of  that  day.  The  ex- 
pulsion from  their  pulpits,  by  the  "Act  of  Uniformi- 
ty," of  two  thousand  of  the  most  able  and  useful  of 
the  clergy  in  England,  had  led  to  great  ignorance 
and  neglect  of  religion  j  and  though  men  like  Leigh- 
ton  and  Owen,  Flavel  and  Baxter,  with  Bunyan  and 
a  host  of  others,  had  continued,  in  spite  of  opposing 
laws,  to  preach  when  they  were  not  shut  up  in  prison, 
and  to  write  their  immortal  practical  works,  by  the 
time  of  which  we  are  speaking  they  had  been  called 
to  their  eternal  reward,  leaving  very  few  men  of  like 
spirit  behind  them.  Thus  infidelity,  profligacy,  and 
formalism  almost  universally  prevailed. 

The  low  state  of  religion  in  the  established  church 
at  that  time  may  be  learned  from  the  Rev.  Augustus 
M.  Toplady,  himself  one  of  its  ministers,  who  died  in 
1778.  In  a  sermon  yet  extant  he  says,  "I  believe  no 
denomination  of  professing  Christians,  the  church  of 
Rome  excepted,  were  so  generally  void  of  the  light 
and  life  of  godliness,  so  generally  destitute  of  the  doc- 
trine and  of  the  grace  of  the  gospel,  as  was  the  church 
of  England,  considered  as  a  body,  about  fifty  years 
ago.  At  that  period  a  converted  minister  in  the  estab- 
lishment was  as  great  a  wonder  as  a  comet ;  but  now, 
blessed  be  God,  since  that  precious,  that  great  apostle 
of  the  English  empire,  the  late  dear  Mr.  Whitefield, 
was  raised  up  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  the 


MORAL  STATE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          15 

word  of  God  has  run  and  been  glorified ;  many  have 
believed  and  been  added  to  the  Lord  all  over  the 
three  kingdoms  ;  and  blessed  be  his  name,  the  great 
Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls  continues  still  to  issue 
his  word,  and  great  is  the  company  of  preachers, 
greater  and  greater  every  year." 

If  it  be  said  that  Toplady,  as  he  belonged  to  a 
different  school  of  theology  from  that  which  then  gen- 
erally prevailed,  could  scarcely  be  expected  to  be 
impartial,  we  ask  leave  to  transcribe  a  few  lines  from 
Bishop  Butler,  who  within  six  months  of  Whitefield's 
ordination  wrote  thus :  "  It  is  come,  I  know  not  how, 
to  be  taken  for  granted  by  many  persons,  that  Chris- 
tianity is  not  so  much  as  a  subject  of  inquiry ;  but 
that  it  is  now  at  length  discovered  to  be  fictitious. 
And  accordingly  they  treat  it  as  if  in  the  present  age 
this  were  an  agreed  point  among  all  people  of  discern- 
ment ;  and  nothing  remained  but  to  set  it  up  as  a 
principal  subject  of  mirth  and  ridicule,  as  it  were  by 
way  of  reprisals  for  its  having  so  long  interrupted  the 
pleasures  of  the  world."  Bishop  Warburton,  who 
commenced  his  ministry  a  few  years  before  White- 
field,  and  who  cannot  be  charged  with  enthusiasm, 
says,  "I  have  lived  to  see  that  fatal  crisis,  when  re- 
ligion hath  lost  its  hold  on  the  minds  of  the  people." 

Many  other  witnesses  might  be  brought  to  testify 
that  error  and  worldly  mindedness  had  made  mourn- 
ful havoc  among  the  clergy,  and  that  spiritual  relig- 
ion had  been  almost  buried  in  forms  and  ceremonies. 
A  recent  writer  has  well  described  the  state  of  relig- 
ion in  the  established  church  at  that  time,  as  only  to 
be  compared  to  a  frozen  or  palsied  carcass.  "  There," 


16  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

says  this  Episcopal  clergyman, "  were  the  time-honored 
formularies  which  the  wisdom  of  the  reformers  had 
provided.  There  were  the  services  and  lessons  from 
Scripture,  just  in  the  same  order  as  we  have  them  now. 
But  as  to  preaching  the  gospel,  in  the  established 
church  there  was  almost  none.  The  distinguishing 
doctrines  of  Christianity — the  atonement,  the  work 
and  office  of  Christ  and  the  Spirit-were  compara- 
tively lost  sight  of.  The  vast  majority  of  sermons 
were  miserable  moral  essays,  utterly  devoid  of  any 
thing  calculated  to  awaken,  convert,  save,  or  sanctify 
souls."  Southey,  a  biographer  of  Wesley,  who  assur- 
edly will  not  be  accused  of  too  strong  a  tendency  to 
evangelical  truth,  is  compelled  to  say,  "A, laxity  of 
opinions  as  well  as  morals  obtained,  and  infidelity,  a 
plague  which  had  lately  found  its  way  into  the  country, 
was  becoming  so  prevalent,  that  the  vice-chancellor 
of  the  university  at  Oxford,  in  a  programma,  exhorted 
the  tutors  to  discharge  their  duties  by  double  dili- 
gence, and  had  forbidden  the  under-graduates  to  read 
such  books  as  might  tend  to  the  weakening  of  their 
faith." 

There  were  undoubtedly  some  learned  and  con- 
scientious bishops  at  this  era.  Such  men  were  Seeker 
and  Gibson,  Lowth  and  Home,  Butler,  and  others. 
But  even  the  best  of  them  seem  sadly  to  have  misun- 
derstood the  requirements  of  the  day  they  lived  in. 
They  spent  their  strength  in  writing  apologies  for 
Christianity,  and  contending  against  infidels.  They 
could  not  see  that  without  the  direct  preaching  of  the 
essential  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  their  labors  must  be 
sadly  defective.  The  man  who  dared  to  preach  the 


MORAL  STATE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          IT 

doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  in  harmony  with  the  Arti- 
cles and  Homilies  of  his  church,  was  set  down  as  an 
enthusiast  or  fanatic. 

Among  those  who  had  dissented  from  the  estab- 
lished hierarchy,  and  who  were  untrammelled  by  the 
impositions  of  secular  authority,  the  state  of  vital  god- 
liness was  also  unhappily  very  low.  The  noble  spirits 
of  early  non-conformity  had  passed  from  earth,  or 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  frozen  shores  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  a  race  of  men  had  sprung  up,  some  of  whom 
retained  the  tenets  of  orthodoxy,  but  had  lost  its. 
power ;  while  others  reposed  on  comfortable  endow- 
ments, and  lulled  themselves,  or  were  drawn  by  favor- 
able breezes,  into  the  cold  elements  of  Arianism  and 
Socinianism.  As  persons  in  the  frozen  regions  are 
said  to  sleep  longer  and  more  soundly  than  others,  so 
did  they  ;  and  a  more  terrific  blast  of  the  trumpet  of 
the  gospel  was  required  to  rouse  and  awake  them 
from  their  spiritual  slumbers.  Happily  indeed  for  the 
world,  and  for  the  church  in  it,  there  were  some  ex- 
ceptions. Watts  and  Guyse  and  Doddridge,  and  their 
pious  associates  in  different  parts  of  the  land,  were 
laborers  together  in  "  God's  husbandry,"  and  ceased 
not  to  cultivate  it  with  affectionate  faithfulness  and 
care ;  and  wherever  their  labors  extended,  the  plants 
of  grace  grew  and  flourished.  Darracott,  "  the  star  of 
the  west,"  threw  his  mild  rays  over  the  vales  of  Som- 
erset ;  and  in  the  north  also  a  few  faithful  men  were 
found. 

Nor  have  we  even  now  said  all  that  should  be 
written  as  to  the  character  of  those  times.  The  high- 
est personages  in  the  land  then  openly  lived  in  ways 


18  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

contrary  to  the  law  of  God,  and  no  man  rebuked 
them.  Profligacy  and  irreligion  were  reputable  and 
respectable.  Judging  from  the  description  we  have 
of  men  and  manners  in  those  days,  a  gentleman  might 
have  been  denned  as  a  creature  who  got  drunk,  gam- 
bled, swore,  fought  duels,  and  violated  the  seventh 
commandment,  and  for  all  this  very  few  thought  the 
worse  of  him. 

Those  too  were  the  days  when  the  men  whom  even 
kings  delighted  to  honor  were  such  as  Bolingbroke, 
.Chesterfield,  Walpole,  and  Newcastle.  To  be  an  in- 
fidel, to  obtain  power  by  intrigue,  and  to  retain  it  by 
the  grossest  and  most  notorious  bribery,  were  consid- 
ered no  disqualifications  even  for  the  highest  offices. 
Such  men  indeed  were  not  only  tolerated,  but  praised. 
In  those  days  too,  Hume,  an  avowed  infidel,  put  forth 
his  History,  and  obtained  a  pension.  Sterne  and 
Swift  then  wrote  their  talented,  but  obscene  books ; 
both  of  them  were  clergymen,  but  the  public  saw  little 
inconsistency  in  their  conduct.  Fielding  and  Smol- 
lett were  the  popular  authors,  and  the  literary  taste 
of  high  and  low  was  suited  by  Roderick  Random, 
Peregrine  Pickle,  Joseph  Andrews,  and  Tom  Jones. 
These  authors  were  ingenious  heathen  philosophers, 
assuming  the  name  of  Christians,  and  forcibly  pagan- 
izing Christianity  for  the  sake  of  pleasing  the  world. 

Turning  to  Scotland,  we  find  that  the  bold  proc- 
lamation of  the  discriminating  truths  of  the  gospel 
which  characterize  the  preaching  of  Knox,  Welsh, 
and  others,  was  being  rapidly  laid  aside,  and  cold 
formal  addresses,  verging  towards  a  kind  of  Socinian- 
ism  were  becoming  fashionable.  Old  Mr.  Hutchin- 


MORAL  STATE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  19' 

son,  minister  of  Kilellan,  in  Renfrewshire,  who  saw 
but  the  beginning  of  this  sad  change,  used  to  say  to 
Wodrow  the  historian,  "When  I  compare  the  times 
before  the  restoration  with  those  since  the  revolution, 
I  must  own  that  the  young  ministers  preach  accurate- 
ly, and  methodically ;  but  there  was  far  more  of  the 
power  and  efficacy  of  the  Spirit  and  of  the  grace  of 
God  went  along  with  sermons  in  those  days  than  now. 
For  my  own  part — all  the  glory  be  to  God — I  seldom 
set  my  foot  in  a  pulpit  in  those  days,  but  I  had  notice 
of  the  blessed  effects  of  the  word."  It  is  true,  that 
even  then  there  were  a  few  faithful  witnesses  for  God 
in  Scotland,  such  as  the  brothers  Erskine,  in  the  Se- 
cession church ;  but  for  the  most  part,  coldness,  bar- 
renness, and  death  prevailed.  The  people  knew  not 
God,  and  were  strangers  to  the  life-giving  influence 
and  power  of  the  gospel. 

The  Arianism  of  England  had  been  carried  to  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  finding  a  state  of  feeling  suit- 
able to  its  reception,  it  took  root  and  grew  up,  so 
as  to  characterize  a  distinct  section  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  then  and  still  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  the  Remonstrant  Synod.  The  south  and 
west  of  Ireland  were  subjected  to  a  blight  not  less 
withering,  though  of  a  different  kind,  and  which  con- 
tinued much  longer — continued,  to  a  great  extent, 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  last  century.  The  clergy 
were  usually  sons  of  the  gentry,  and  accustomed  to 
their  sporting,  drinking,  and  riotous  habits.  They 
had  no  preparation  for  ministerial  duties  but  a  col- 
lege degree  ;  and  no  education,  either  literary  or 
moral,  which  had  not  been  obtained  among  wild 


20  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

young  men  at  the  university.  According  to  the  in- 
terest which  they  happened  to  have,  they  passed  at 
once  from  college  to  ministerial  charges,  and  again 
mixed  in  all  the  dissipations  of  the  districts  where 
these  lay.  Ignorant  of  the  truth,  they  and  their  con- 
gregations were  satisfied  with  some  short  moral  dis- 
course. Many  of  the  people  were  almost  as  ignorant 
of  the  Scriptures  and  scripture  truth  as  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Hindostan.  The  Catholic  priests  meanwhile 
were  at  work  among  the  people,  and  they  had  many 
to  help  them.  The  sick  and  the  dying  were  watched  ; 
their  fears  were  wrought  upon ;  they  were  told  of 
the  power  which  the  priests  had,  of  the  influence  pos- 
sessed by  the  Virgin,  and  much  about  the  old  church; 
and  as  soon  as  any  seemed  to  give  way,  on  whatever 
point,  the  priest  was  sent  for,  who  plied  them  anew, 
and  seldom  failed  in  succeeding  with  the  poor  igno- 
rant people.  They  were  now  ready  to  receive  ab- 
solution ;  but  he  had  farther  conditions  to  propose. 
The  whole  family  must  submit  to  be  rebaptized,  or  at 
least  promise  to  attend  mass — and  this  also  was  not 
unfrequently  gained  ;  the  Protestant  clergyman  being 
all  the  while  at  a  distance,  neither  knowing  nor  much 
caring  what  was  going  on.  In  this  way  great  num- 
bers of  the  lower  and  middle  classes  of  the  Protes- 
tants went  over  to  the  church  of  Rome.  Throughout 
whole  districts  the  Protestant  churches  were  almost 
emptied,  and  many  of  those  in  rural  districts  were 
allowed  to  fall  into  ruins. 

Of  Wales  it  is  not  important  at  present  to  say 
much.  From  the  middle  ages  downwards,  great  dark- 
ness and  superstition  had  prevailed  among  its  moun- 


MORAL  STATE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          21 

tains.  It  is  true  that  in  the  days  of  James  I.,  a  cler- 
gyman named  Wroth,  whose  conversion  to  the  truth 
had  been  remarkable,  had  labored  with  eminent  zeal 
and  success,  but  at  the  period  -of  which  we  are  now 
writing  declension  had  succeeded.  Within  the  estab- 
lishment all  was  cold  and  dead  j  nearly  every  minister 
was  ignorant  of  the  Welsh  language,  a  fact  which 
also  applied  to  several  successive  bishops,  while  the 
state  of  morals,  among  even  the  leaders  of  the  hierar- 
chy, was  truly  deplorable.  An  old  Methodist  simply 
but  truly  described  the  country  at  this  period,  and  of 
his  correct  narrative  we  will  here  give  a  free  trans- 
lation. 

The  land,  he  tells  us,  was  dark  indeed.  Scarcely 
any  of  the  lower  ranks  could  read  at  all.  The  mor- 
als of  the  country  were  very  corrupt;  and  in  this 
respect  there  was  no  difference  between  high  and  low, 
layman  and  clergyman.  Gluttony,  drunkenness,  and 
licentiousness  prevailed  through  the  whole  country. 
Nor  were  the  operations  of  the  church  at  all  adapted 
to  repress  these  evils.  From  the  pulpit  the  name  of 
the  Redeemer  was  scarcely  heard ;  nor  was  much  men- 
tion made  of  the  natural  sinfulness  of  man,  or  of  the 
influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  On  Sunday  mornings, 
the  poor  were  more  constant  in  their  attendance  at 
church  than  the  gentry;  but  the  Sunday  evenings 
were  spent  by  all  in  idle  amusements.  Every  Sabbath 
there  was  practised  a  kind  of  sport,  called  in  Welsh 
Achwaren-gamp,  in  which  all  the  young  men  of  the 
neighborhood  had  a  trial  of  strength,  and  the  people 
assembled  from  the  surrounding  country  to  witness 
their  feats.  On  a  Saturday  night,  particularly  in  the 


22  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD." 

summer,  the  young  men  and  women  held  what  they 
called  Nosweithian  cann,  or  singing  eves ;  that  is,  they 
met  together  and  amused  themselves  by  singing  in 
turns  to  the  harp,  till  the  dawn  of  the  Sabbath. 
These  things,  with  the  performance  of  rustic  dramas, 
would  occupy  sometimes  the  whole  of  the  sacred  day 
itself;  while  a  set  of  vagabonds,  called  the  Bobl 
gerdded,  or  walking  people,  used  to  traverse  the  vil- 
lages, begging  with  impunity,  to  the  disgrace  alike  of 
the  law  and  the  country.  With  all  this  social  spright- 
liness,  the  Welsh  were  then  a  superstitious,  and  even 
a  gloomy  people.  They  still  retained  many  habits 
apparently  derived  from  paganism,  and  not  a  few  of 
the  practices  of  popery.  Their  funerals,  like  those  of 
the  Irish,  were  scenes  of  riot  and  drunkenness,  fol- 
lowed by  prayers  for  the  release  of  the  deceased  from 
the  pains  of  purgatory.  Such  was  the  superstition  of 
the  people,  that  when  Methodism  was  first  introduced 
among  them,  many  of  the  peasantry  expressed  their 
horror  of  the  new  opinions  by  the  truly  Popish  ges- 
ture of  crossing  the  forehead ;  and  when  Wesley  first 
visited  them,  he  pronounced  them  "  as  little  versed  in 
the  principles  of  Christianity  as  a  Creek  or  Cherokee 
Indian."  To  this  declaration  he  added  the  striking 
remark,  that,  "  notwithstanding  their  superstition  and 
ignorance,  the  people  '  were  ripe  for  the  gospel/  and 
most  enthusiastically  anxious  to  avail  themselves  of 
every  opportunity  of  instruction." 

As  an  illustration  of  the  truth  of  the  remark  we 
have  just  introduced  from  the  discerning  Wesley,  we 
may  mention  an  incident  which  occurred  in  1736.  At 
this  period  dissent  itself  was  reduced  so  low  in  the 


MORAL  STATE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          23 

country,  that  there  were  only  six  dissenting  houses  of 
worship  in  all  North  Wales.  One  Sunday,  Mr.  Lewis 
Rees,  a  dissenting  minister  from  South  Wales,  and  the 
father  of  Dr.  Rees,  the  author  of  the  celebrated  Cyclo- 
pedia which  bears  his  name,  visited  Pwllheli,  a  town 
on  the  promontory  of  Sle'yn,  in  Caernarvonshire,  and 
one  of  the  few  places  in  which  the  Independents  still 
had  a  chapel.  After  the  service,  the  congregation, 
collecting  around  him,  complained  very  sorely  that 
their  numbers  were  rapidly  diminishing,  that  the  few 
who  yet  remained  were  for  the  most  part  poor,  and 
that  every  thing  connected  with  their  cause  looked 
gloomy.  To  which  the  minister  replied,  "  The  dawn 
of  religion  is  again  breaking  out  in  South  Wales," 
referring  them  to  the  fact,  that  already  a  distin- 
guished man — Howel  Harris — had  risen  up,  going 
about  instructing  the  people  in  the  truths  of  the 
gospel.  Such  was  the  character  of  the  times  when 
God  .was  raising  up  agents  to  revive  and  extend  his 
cause.  We  shall  before  long  return  to  Wales  with 
lively  interest. 

"  Such,"  says  the  eloquent  Robert  Hall,  "  was  the 
situation  of  things  when  Whitefield  and  Wesley  made 
their  appearance,  who,  whatever  failings  the  severest 
criticism  can  discover  in  their  character,  will  be  hailed 
by  posterity  as  the  second  reformers  of  England. 
Nothing  was  farther  from  the  views  of  these  excellent 
men  than  to  innovate  on  the  established  religion  of 
their  country ;  their  sole  aim  was  to  recall  the  people 
to  the  good  old  way,  and  to  imprint  the  doctrines  of 
the  Articles  and  Homilies  on  the  spirits  of  men.  But 
this  doctrine  had  been  so  long  a  dead  letter,  and  so 


24  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

completely  obliterated  from  the  mind  by  contrary 
instructions,  that  the  attempt  to  revive  it  met  with 
all  the  opposition  that  innovation  is  sure  to  encoun- 
ter, in  addition  to  what  naturally  results  from  the 
nature  of  the  doctrine  itself,  which  has  to  contend 
with  the  whole  force  of  human  corruption.  The  re- 
vival of  the  old,  appeared  like  the  introduction  of  a 
new  religion;  and  the  hostility  it  excited  was  less 
sanguinary,  but  scarcely  less  virulent,  than  that  which 
signalized  the  first  publication  of  Christianity.  The 
gospel  of  Christ,  or  that  system  of  truth  which  was 
laid  at  the  foundation  of  the  Reformation,  has  since 
made  rapid  advances,  and  in  every  step  of  its  progress 
has  sustained  the  most  furious  assaults." 

It  ought  here  to  be  stated,  as  illustrating  the  prov- 
idence of  God  in  preparing  the  British  empire  for  the 
reception  of  the  gospel,  that  the  revolution  of  1688 
introduced  the  spirit  of  toleration,  and  in  1714,  the 
very  year  of  "Whitefield's  birth,  Anne,  the  last  English 
sovereign  of  a  persecuting  spirit,  died,  and  the  throne 
was  assumed  by  George  I.,  the  first  prince  of  the 
house  of  Hanover.  The  way  of  the  Lord  was  thus 
prepared  for  bright  illustrations  of  his  mercy. 

Rising  from  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Severn,  and 
on  the  borders  of  that  noble  stream,  reposes  in  an- 
tique glory  the  affluent  city  of  GLOUCESTEK,  with  its 
regular  streets,  and  its  majestic  cathedral  and  other 
relics  of  bygone  days.  In  that  city  the  traveller 
may  examine  three  spots  which  will  long  be  interest- 
ing to  the  student  of  ecclesiastical  curiosities.  The 
first  of  these  is  the  ancient  church  of  Mary  de  Crypt, 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  25 

whore  reposes  the  dust  of  Robert  Raikes,  the  founder 
of  Sunday-schools ;  the  second,  is  the  little  stone 
which,  in  a  pensive-looking  inclosure,  marks  the  site 
on  which  the  truly  noble-minded  and  Protestant  Bishop 
Hooper  was  burnt,  an  early  martyr  of  bloody  Mary's 
reign.  There  wicked  men  stood  around  to  light  up 
the  flames,  and  to  mock  his  sorrows ;  but  as  we  stand 
and  look,  we  exult  in  the  subsequent  triumphs  of 
truth. 

The  third  spot,  and  the  one  to  us  at  the  present 
moment  the  most  interesting,  is  the  Bell  inn  or  hotel» 
yet  standing,  though  enlarged  and  beautified  since 
the  period  of  which  we  write.  There  WHITEFIELD — 
the  saint,  the  seraph,  the  "  angel  flying  in  the  midst 
of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  to 
them  that  dwell  on  the  earth" — first  breathed  the 
vital  air.  Venerable  city,  we  will  rejoice  that  though 
within  thy  walls  one  glorious  luminary  of  salvation 
was  extinguished,  another  "burning  and  shining  light" 
was  raised  up  to  diffuse  joy  and  happiness  over  the 
two  most  influential  quarters  of  the  globe,  and  a  third 
has  since  been  given  to  suggest  the  simple  plan  by 
which  millions  of  the  young  have  already  acquired 
the  knowledge  of  salvation. 

GEORGE  WHITEFIELD,  the  sixth  son  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Whitefield,  was  born  December  16, 1714,  old 
style.  Concerning  his  father  and  mother  he  writes, 
"  The  former  died  when  I  was  two  years  old ;  the 
latter  died  in  December,  1751,  in  the  seventy-first 
year  of  her  age,  and  has  often  told  me  how  she  en- 
dured fourteen  weeks'  sickness  after  she  brought  me 
into  the  world;  but  was  used  to  say,  even  when  I 

Whitefietd.  2 


26  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

was  an  infant,  that  she  expected  more  comfort  from 
me  than  from  any  other  of  her  children.  This,  with  the 
circumstance  of  my  being  born  in  an  inn,  has  often 
been  of  service  to  me,  in  exciting  my  endeavors  to 
make  good  my  mother's  expectations,  and  so  follow 
the  example  of  my  dear  Saviour,  who  was  laid  in  a 
manger  belonging  to  an  inn." 

In  one  of  his  journals,  which  he  commenced  at  a 
very  early  part  of  his  ministry,  Whitefield  details  with 
great  simplicity  many  incidents  of  his  childhood  and 
youth ;  from  which  it  appears,  that  though  at  times 
he  had  many  serious  thoughts  and  impressions,  the 
general  course  of  his  life,  till  the  age  of  sixteen,  was 
irreligious.  He  tells  us  that  in  early  youth  he  was 
"  so  brutish  as  to  hate  instruction,  and  used  purposely 
to  shun  all  opportunities  of  receiving  it,"  and  that 
he  spent  much  money,  improperly  obtained  from  his 
mother,  in  cards,  plays,  and  romances,  "  which,"  says 
he,  "  were  my  heart's  delight.  Often  have  I  joined 
with  others  in  playing  roguish  tricks  ;  but  was  gener- 
ally, if  not  always,  happily  detected :  for  this  I  have 
often  since,  and  do  now  bless  and  praise  God."  His 
full  confessions  of  this  character  are  very  affecting, 
and  should  be  a  caution  to  young  persons  to  repel  all 
such  temptations. 

When  George  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  his 
mother  married  a  second  time,  thus  forming  a  connec- 
tion which  led  to  much  unhappiness.  He  was,  how- 
ever, continued  at  school ;  and  when  twelve  years  old, 
was  transferred  to  the  grammar-school  of  St.  Mary  de 
Crypt,  where  he  remained  about  three  years.  Having 
a  graceful  elocution  and  a  good  memory,  he  gained 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  27 

much  credit  for  delivering  speeches  before  the  city- 
corporation  at  the  annual  visitation  of  the  school,  and 
received  pecuniary  rewards  for  his  performances  on 
.those  occasions.  How  deeply  he  afterwards  deplored 
these  celebrations,  especially  the  performance  of  plays 
in  connection  with  his  school-fellows,  may  be  learned 
from  his  own  words :  "  I  cannot  but  observe  here, 
with  much  concern  of  mind,  how  this  way  of  training 
up  youth  has  a  natural  tendency  to  debauch  the  mind, 
to  raise  ill  passions,  and  to  stuff  the  memory  with 
things  as  contrary  to  the  gospel  of  Christ,  as  darkness 
to  light,  hell  to  heaven."  This  sad  tendency  was 
but  too  clearly  evinced  in  the  case  of  Whitefield  him- 
self. "  I  got  acquainted,"  he  says,  "  with  such  a  set 
of  debauched,  abandoned,  atheistical  youths,  that  if 
God,  by  Tiis  free,  unmerited,  and  special  grace,  had 
not  delivered  me  out  of  their  hands,  I  should  have  sat 
in  the  scorner's  chair,  and  made  a  mock  at  sin.  By 
keeping  company  with  them,  my  thoughts  of  religion 
grew  more  and  more  like  theirs.  I  went  to  public 
service  only  to  make  sport,  and  walk  about.  I  took 
pleasure  in  their  lewd  conversation.  I  began  to  rea- 
son as  they  did,  and  to  ask  why  God  had  given  me 
passions,  and  not  permitted  me  to  gratify  them.  In 
short,  I  soon  made  great  proficiency  in  the  school  of 
the  devil.  I  affected  to  look  rakish,  and  was  in  a 
fair  way  of  being  as  infamous  as  the  worst  of  them." 
These  were  the  things,  and  not  oratory,  as  has  some- 
times been  said,  which  Whitefield  learned  from  plays 
and  acting. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this,  his  conscience  often  made 
him  unhappy ;  and  he  wished,  if  possible,  to  combine 


28  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

• 

religion  with  his  pleasures.  He  purchased  and  care- 
fully read  "  Ken's  Manual  for  Winchester  Scholars," 
a  book  which  commended  itself  as  having  comforted 
his  mother  in  her  afflictions,  and  which  he  afterwards 
considered  to  have  been  "of  great  benefit  to  his 
soul." 

At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  thought  he  had  acquired 
learning  enough  for  any  ordinary  occupation  in  life, 
and  as  his  mother's  business  was  declining,  he  per- 
suaded her  to  allow  him  to  leave  school  and  assist  in 
labor.  "  I  began,"  says  he,  "  to  assist  her  occasionally 
in  the  public-house,  till  at  length  I  put  on  my  blue 
apron  and  my  snufiers,  washed  mops,  cleaned  rooms, 
and  in  one  word,  became  professed  and  common  drawer 
for  nearly  a  year  and  a  half."  In  the  midst  of  the 
activity  called  for  in  such  a  situation,  it  pleased  God 
to  renew  his  religious  impressions,  which  induced  him, 
at  least  at  intervals,  to  attend  with  much  earnestness 
to  the  concerns  of  his  soul. 

From  his  childhood,  Whitefield  tells  us,  he  "was 
always  fond  of  being  a  clergyman,  and  used  frequently 
to  imitate  the  ministers'  reading  prayers."  Nor  did 
this  tendency  towards  clerical  engagements  cease  as 
he  became  older.  "Notwithstanding,"  he  says,  "I 
was  thus  employed  in  a  large  inn,  and  had  sometimes 
the  care  of  the  whole  house  upon  my  hands,  yet  I  com- 
posed two  or  three  sermons,  and  dedicated  one  of 
them  to  my  elder  brother.  One  day,  I  remember,  I 
was  very  much  pressed  to  self-examination,  and  found 
myself  very  unwilling  to  look  into  my  heart.  Fre- 
quently I  read  the  Bible  when  sitting  up  at  night. 
And  a  dear  youth,  now  with  God.  would  often  entreat 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  29 

me,  when  serving  at  the  bar,  to  go  to  Oxford.  My 
general  answer  was,  'I  wish  I  could.'" 

His  mother's  difficulties  increasing,  it  became  ne- 
cessary for  her  to  leave  the  inn ;  in  which  she  was  suc- 
ceeded by  one  of  her  married  sons,  with  whom  George 
for  some  time  remained  to  continue  his  assistance  in 
the  business.  Some  disagreement,  however,  arising 
between  them,  he  after  a  time  took  his  departure  from 
the  inn,  and  went  to  spend  a  month  with  his  eldest 
brother  at  Bristol.  Returning  from  that  city  to  Glou- 
cester, he  resided  for  a  short  season  with  his  mother. 
While  thus  living  unemployed,  without  any  definite 
object  before  him,  and  waiting  the  openings  of  provi- 
dence, his  mother  was  visited  by  an  Oxford  student, 
a  servitor  of  Pembroke  college  in  that  university. 
In  the  course  of  their  conversation,  he  told  her,  that 
after  all  his  expenses  at  college  for  the  quarter 
were  discharged,  he  had  one  penny  remaining.  She 
immediately  exclaimed,  "  This  will  do  for  my  son !" 
and  turning  to  him,  said,  "  Will  you  go  to  Oxford, 
George  ?"  He  replied,  "  With  all  my  heart."  Appli- 
cation was  immediately  made  to  several  friends  who 
had  influence  at  the  college,  and  they  pledged  them- 
selves to  serve  her.  In  this  confidence,  her  favorite 
son  returned  to  the  grammar-school,  where  he  not 
only  resumed  his  studies  with  greater  diligence,  but 
endeavored,  and  not  altogether  in  vain,  to  promote 
religion  and  virtue  among  his  associates. 

Having  fully  secured  his  literary  preparation  for 
the  university,  Whitefield  removed  to  Oxford  in  his 
eighteenth  year,  and  was  immediately  admitted,  as  a 
servitor,  into  Pembroke  college.  He  soon  found  that 


30  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  seat  of  learning  was  also  a  scene  of  danger.  From 
the  period  of  1662,  when  the  two  thousand  Non-con- 
formists had  been  expelled  from  the  church,  the  uni- 
versities had  been  sinking  into  a  moral  lethargy,  pre- 
ferring uniformity  to  vital  religion.  Our  young  ser- 
vitor was  shocked  with  the  impiety  of  the  students  in 
general,  and  dreading  their  influence  on  himself,  he 
as  much  as  possible  abstained  from  their  society,  and 
shut  himself  up  in  his  study. 

Before  he  went  to  Oxford,  Whitefield  had  heard 
of  a  class  of  young  men  in  the  university  who  "  lived 
by  rule  and  method,"  and  were  therefore  called  Meth- 
odists. They  were  much  talked  of,  and  generally 
despised.  Of  this  party,  John  Wesley,  a  Fellow  of 
Lincoln  college,  and  already  in  holy  orders,  was  the 
leader,  his  brother  Charles  being  also  as  warmly  at- 
tached to  it.  They  avowed  that  the  great  object  of 
their  lives  was  to  save  their  souls,  and  to  live  wholly 
to  the  glory  of  God ;  and  rarely  have  men  subjected 
themselves  to  greater  self-denials  and  austerities. 
Drawn  towards  them  by  kindred  feelings,  Whitefield 
strenuously  defended  them  whenever  he  heard  them 
reviled,  and  when  he  saw  them  going,  through  a  crowd 
manifesting  their  ridicule,  every  Sunday  to  receive  the 
sacrament  at  St.  Mary's  or  Christ  church,  he  was 
strongly  inclined  to  follow  their  example. 

For  more  than  a  year  he  intensely  desired  to  be 
acquainted  with  them,  but  a  sense  of  his  pecuniary 
inferiority  to  them  prevented  his  advances.  At  length, 
learning  that  a  pauper  had  attempted  suicide,  White- 
field  sent  a  poor  woman  to  inform  Charles  Wesley, 
that  so  he  might  visit  her,  and  administer  religious 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  31 

instruction.  He  charged  the  woman  not  to  tell  Mr. 
Wesley  who  sent  her,  but,  contrary  to  this  injunction, 
she  told  his  name ;  and  Charles  Wesley,  who  had  fre- 
quently seen  Whitefield  walking  by  himself,  on  the 
next  morning  invited  him  to  breakfast.  An  introduc- 
tion to  the  little  brotherhood  soon  followed,  and  he 
also,  like  them,  "  began  to  live  by  rule,  and  pick  up 
the  very  fragments  of  his  time,  that  not  a  moment 
might  be  lost." 

It  is  painful  to  read  Whitefield's  own  account  of  the 
mortifications  of  body  to  which  he  now  submitted ;  and 
we  are  not  surprised  that,  as  the  result,  his  health 
was  so  reduced  as  to  place  even  his  life  in  danger. 
All  this  time  he  had  no  clear  view  of  the  way  of  sal- 
vation, and  was  "  seeking  to  work  out  a  righteousness 
of  his  own."  In  this  state  he  lay  on  his  bed,  his 
tongue  parched  with  fever,  and  the  words  of  the  dy- 
ing Saviour,  "  I  thirst,"  were  impressed  on  his  mind. 
Remembering  that  this  thirst  occurred  near  the  end 
of  the  Saviour's  sufferings,  the  thought  arose  in  his 
mind,  "Why  may  it  not  be  so  with  me?  Why  may 
I  not  now  receive  deliverance  and  comfort?  Why 
may  I  not  now  dare  to  trust  and  rejoice  in  the  par- 
doning mercy  of  God?"  There  was,  as  Tracy  has 
said,  no  reason  why  he  might  not — why  he  ought  not. 
He  saw  nothing  to  forbid  him.  He  prayed  in  hope, 
borrowing  language  from  the  fact  which  suggested 
the  train  of  thought—"  I  thirst,  I  thirst  for  faith  in 
pardoning  love.  Lord,  I  believe ;  help  thou  mine 
unbelief."  His  prayer  was  heard.  He  dared  to  trust 
in  the  mercy  of  God,  as  revealed  in  the  death  of  Jesus 
Christ  for  sinners.  Conscience  and  his  Bible  bore 


32  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

witness  that  he  did  right.  The  load  that  had  so 
heavily  oppressed  him,  the  load  of  guilt  and  terror 
and  anxiety,  that  weighed  down  his  spirit  while  he 
sinfully  and  ungratefully  hesitated  to  trust  in  divine 
mercy,  was  gone.  He  saw  the  trustworthiness  of  the 
mercy  of  God  in  Christ,  and  his  heart  rejoiced. 

"  Though,"  as  Tracy  has  well  said,  "  the  English 
universities  were  established  mainly  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  men  for  the  ministry,  Whitefield  was  not 
likely  to  gain  a  good  knowledge  of  theology  there. 
He  took  another,  and  a  characteristic  course.  Some 
time  after  his  conversion,  when  he  was  at  Gloucester, 
he  says, '  I  began  to  read  the  holy  Scriptures  upon  my 
knees  ;  laying  aside  all  other  books,  and  praying  over, 
if  possible,  every  line  and  word.  This  proved  meat 
indeed  and  drink  indeed  to  my  soul.  I  daily  received 
fresh  life,  light,  and  power  from  above.  I  thus  got 
more  true  knowledge  in  reading  the  book  of  God  in 
one  month,  than  I  could  ever  have  acquired  from  all 
the  writings  of  men.' " 

Every  hour  of  Whitefield's  time,  especially  after 
he  had  been  "  filled  with  peace  and  joy  in  believing," 
was  sacredly  devoted  to  preparation  for  the  great 
work  to  which  he  had  now  solemnly  devoted  himself. 
He  visited  the  prisoners  in  the  jail,  and  the  poor  in 
their  cottages,  and  gave  as  much  time  as  he  could  to 
communion  with  God  in  his  closet.  His  friends  now 
earnestly  importuned  him  to  apply  for  ordination ; 
but  from  this  his  deep  sense  of  unworthiness  made 
him  shrink.  Besides,  he  intended  to  have  a  hundred 
and  fifty  sermons  carefully  written  before  he  began 
to  preach.  He  had  as  yet  but  one,  and  he  lent  that  to 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  33 

a  neighboring  clergyman,  to  convince  him  that  he  was 
not  yet  fit  to  be  ordained.  The  clergyman  kept  it 
for  two  weeks,  divided  it  into  two,  preached  it  to  his 
own  people,  and  then  returned  it  to  Whitefield,  with 
a  guinea  for  the  use  of  it. 

Still,  however,  the  work  of  preparation  for  the 
ministry  was  rapidly  going  on.  The  state  of  his 
health  compelled  him  to  retire  for  a  season  from  Ox- 
ford, and  he  returned  home  to  increase  the  depth  of 
his  piety,  and  to  be  led,  little  as  he  thought  of  it,  at 
once  to  the  pulpit.  He  writes,  "  0  what  sweet  com- 
munion had  I  daily  vouchsafed  with  God  in  prayer, 
after  my  coming  to  Gloucester.  How  often  have  I 
been  carried  out  beyond  myself,  when  meditating  in 
the  fields.  How  assuredly  I  felt  that  Christ  dwelt  in 
me,  and  I  in  him  ;  and  how  daily  did  I  walk  in  the 
comforts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  was  edified  and  re- 
freshed in  the  multitude  of  peace.  I  always  observed 
that  as  my  inward  strength  increased,  so  my  outward 
sphere  of  action  increased  proportionably." 

Thus,  happy  in  himself,  and  thankful  to  the  gra- 
cious God  who  made  him  so,  the  affectionate  soul  of 
George  "Whitefield  ardently  desired  that  others  might 
participate  in  his  sacred  joys.  In  order  to  advance 
this  object,  he  mixed  in  the  society  of  young  people, 
and  endeavored  to  awaken  them  to  a  just  sense  of  the 
nature  of  true  religion.  Some  were  convinced  of  the 
truth,  and  united  with  him  in  religious  exercises ;  and 
these  were  some  of  the  first-fruits  of  his  pious  labors. 
His  discovery  of  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  like 
Melancthon's  great  discovery  of  the  truth,  led  him  to 
imagine  that  no  one  could  resist  the  evidence  which 
2* 


34  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

convinced  his  own  mind.  He  writes,  "Upon  this, 
like  the  woman  of  Samaria,  when  Christ  revealed 
himself  to  her  at  the  well,  I  had  no  rest  in  my  soul 
till  I  wrote  letters  to  my  relations,  telling  them 
there  was  such  a  thing  as  the  new  birth.  I  imagined 
they  would  have  gladly  received  it;  but,  alas,  my 
words  seemed  to  them  as  idle  tales.  They  thought  I 
was  going  beside  myself."  He  visited  the  jail  every 
day,  and  read  and  prayed  with  the  prisoners;  at- 
tended public  worship  very  frequently,  and  read  twice 
or  three  times  a  week  to  some  poor  people  in  the  city. 
In  addition  to  all  this,  he  tells  us,  "  During  my  stay 
here,  God  enabled  me  to  give  a  public  testimony  of 
my  repentance  as  to  seeing  and  acting  plays;  for 
hearing  the  strollers  had  come  to  town,  and  knowing 
what  an  egregious  offender  I  had  been,  I  was  stirred 
up  to  extract  Mr.  Law's  excellent  treatise,  entitled, 
"The  absolute  Unlawfulness  of  the  Stage  Entertain- 
ment." The  printer,  at  my  request,  put  a  little  of  it 
in  the  newspaper  for  six  weeks  successively ;  and  God 
was  pleased  to  give  it  his  blessing." 

In  this  manner  Whitefield  employed  himself  dur- 
ing nine  months ;  and  one  effect  of  so  doing  was,  that 
the  partition  wall  of  bigotry  was  soon  broken  down 
in  his  heart.  He  says,  "  I  loved  all,  of  whatever  de- 
nomination, who  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sin- 
cerity." This  statement  in  his  diary  is  connected 
with  an  account  of  the  benefit  he  derived  from  study- 
ing the  works  of  the  Non-conformists.  "  Baxter's  Call," 
and  "  Alleine's  Alarm,"  so  accorded  with  his  own 
ideas  of  fidelity  and  unction,  that  wherever  he  recog- 
nized their  spirit  he  acknowledged  "  a  brother  beloved." 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  35 

On  this  portion  of  his  history  we  dwell  with  unspeak- 
able delight ;  the  only  drawback  is  an  undue  impor- 
tance he  appears  to  have  attached  to  dreams;  and  even 
those,  considered  as  an  index  to  his  waking  hours,  are 
interesting,  revealing  as  they  do  his  deep  solicitude 
on  the  behalf  of  souls. 

Here  then,  before  he  had  completed  his  twenty- 
first  year,  we  see  Whitefield  returned  to  Gloucester, 
and  such  was  already  the  fame  of  his  piety  and  talents, 
that  Dr.  Benson,  the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  offered  to 
dispense,  in  his  favor,  with  the  rule  which  forbids  the 
ordination  of  deacons  at  so  unripe  an  age.  Thus 
graphically  did  he  afterwards  describe  his  acceptance 
of  this  proposal. 

"  I  never  prayed  against  any  corruption  I  had  in 
my  life  so  much  as  I  did  against  going  into  holy 
orders  so  soon  as  my  friends  were  for  having  me  go. 
Bishop  Benson  was  pleased  to  honor  me  with  peculiar 
friendship,  so  as  to  offer  me  preferment,  or  to  do 
any  thing  for  me.  My  friends  wanted  me  to  mount 
the  church  betimes.  They  wanted  me  to  knock  my 
head  against  the  pulpit  too  young;  but  how  some 
young  men  stand  up  here  and  there  and  preach,  I  do 
not  know.  However  it  be  to  them,  God  knows  how 
deep  a  concern  entering  into  the  ministry  and  preach- 
ing was  to  me.  I  prayed  a  thousand  times,  till  the 
sweat  has  dropped  from  my  face  like  rain,  that  God 
of  his  infinite  mercy  would  not  let  me  enter  the  church 
till  he  called  me  and  thrust  me  forth  in  his  work.  I 
remember  once  in  Gloucester — I  know  the  room ;  I 
look  up  to  the  window  when  I  am  there  and  walk 
along  the  street — I  said,  '  Lord,  I  cannot  go ;  I  shall 


36  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

be  puffed  up  with  pride,  and  fall  into  the  condemnation 
of  the  devil.  Lord,  do  not  let  me  go  yet.'  I  pleaded 
to  be  at  Oxford  two  or  three  years  more.  I  intended 
to  make  one  hundred  and  fifty  sermons,  and  thought 
that  I  would  set  up  with  a  good  stock  in  trade.  I 
remember  praying,  wrestling,  and  striving  with  God. 
I  said, '  I  am  undone,  I  am  unfit  to  preach  in  thy  great 
name.  Send  me  not.  Lord,  send  me  not  yet.'  I 
wrote  to  all  my  friends  in  town  and  country  to  pray 
against  the  bishop's  solicitation;  but  they  insisted  I 
should  go  into  orders  before  I  was  twenty-two.  After 
all  their  solicitations  these  words  came  into  my  mind : 
'  Nothing  shall  pluck  you  out  of  my  hands ;'  they  came 
warm  to  my  heart.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  I  said, 
'  Lord,  I  will  go  ;  send  me  when  thou  wilt.' " 

Sunday,  June  20,  1736,  was  the  day  appointed  for 
his  ordination  in  the  cathedral  at  Gloucester.  On 
the  preceding  evening  he  spent  two  hours  in  prayer 
for  himself  and  the  others  who  were  to  be  set  apart 
to  the  sacred  office 'with  him;  and  on  the  day  itself 
he  rose  early,  and  passed  the  morning  in  prayer  and 
meditation  on  the  qualifications  and  duties  of  the  office 
he  was  about  to  undertake.  On  a  review  of  the  sol- 
emn services  of  the  day,  he  says,  "  I  trust  I  answered 
every  question  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  and  heart- 
ily prayed  that  God  might  say,  Amen.  And  when 
the  bishop  laid  his  hands  upon  my  head,  if  my  vile 
heart  do  not  deceive  me,  I  oflered  my  whole  spirit, 
soul,  and  body  to  the  service  of  God's  sanctuary. 
Let  come  what  will,  life  or  death,  depth  or  height, 
I  shall  henceforward  live  like  one  who  this  day,  in  the 
presence  of  men  and  angels,  took  the  holy  sacrament, 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  37 

on  the  profession  of  being  inwardly  moved  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon  me  that  ministration  in  the 
church.  I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  witness,  that 
when  the  bishop  laid  his  hands  upon  me,  I  gave  my- 
self up  to  be  a  martyr  for  Him  who  hung  upon  the 
cross  for  me.  Known  unto  him  are  all  future  events 
and  contingencies;  I  have  thrown  myself  blindfold, 
and  I  trust  without  reserve,  into  his  almighty  hands. 
When  I  went  up  to  the  altar,  I  could  think  of  nothing 
but  Samuel's  standing  before  the  Lord  with  a  linen 
ephod." 

Having  thus  received  ordination  as  a  deacon  of 
the  church  of  England,  he  delayed  not  to  enter  upon 
the  work  to  which  he  was  appointed ;  and  according- 
ly, on  the  next  Sabbath  he  preached  his  first  sermon 
in  his  native  city  of  Gloucester,  selecting  for  his  sub- 
ject, "The  necessity  and  benefit  of  .religious  society." 
At  the  appointed  time  he  ascended  the  pulpit,  in  the 
church  of  St.  Mary  de  Crypt.  We  have  his  own 
record  of  the  service :  "  Last  Sunday,  in  the  afternoon, 
I  preached  my  first  sermon  in  the  church  where  I  first 
received  the  Lord's  supper.  Curiosity  drew  a  large 
congregation  together.  The  sight,  at  first,  a  little 
awed  me ;  but  I  was  comforted  with  a  heartfelt  sense 
of  the  divine  presence,  and  soon  found  the  advantage 
of  having  been  accustomed  to  public  speaking  when 
a  boy  at  school,  and  of  exhorting  and  teaching  the 
prisoners  and  the  poor  people  at  their  private  houses, 
while  at  the  university.  By  these  means  I  was  kept 
from  being  daunted  overmuch.  As  I  proceeded,  I 
perceived  the  fire  kindled,  till  at  last,  though  so  young, 
and  amidst  a  crowd  of  those  who  knew  me  in  my 


38  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

childish  days,  I  trust  I  was  enabled  to  speak  with 
some  degree  of  gospel  authority.  Some  few  mocked, 
but  most,  for  the  present,  seemed  struck ;  and  I  have 
since  heard  that  a  complaint  was  made  to  the  bishop, 
that  I  drove  fifteen  people  mad  the  first  sermon.  The 
worthy  prelate,  as  I  am  informed,  wished  lhat  the 
madness  might  not  be  forgotten  before  the  next  Sun- 
day. Before  then,  I  hope  that  my  sermon  upon,  '  He 
that  is  in  Christ  is  a  new  creature/  will  be  completed. 
Blessed  be  God,  I  now  find  freedom  in  writing.  Glo- 
rious Jesus, 

"  '  Unloose  my  stammering  tongue  to  tell 
Thy  love  immense,  unsearchable.' " 

It  is  remarkable,  under  all  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  that  Bishop  Benson,  a  man  never  distin- 
guished for  his  evangelical  views,  always  showed  his 
friendship  for  Whitefield.  Not  only  did  he  offer  him 
ordination  when  others  might  have  refused,  and  defend 
him  against  the  persecutions  to  which  he  was  exposed, 
but  he  more  than  once  gave  him  pecuniary  help  when 
it  was  much  needed,  though  the  young  clergyman  had 
never  complained. 

Thus  early  apprized  of  the  secret  of  his  strength, 
his  profound  aspirations  for  the  growth  of  Christian- 
ity, the  delight  of  exercising  his  rare  powers,  and  the 
popular  admiration,  operating  with  combined  and 
ceaseless  force  upon  a  mind  impatient  of  repose,  urged 
him  into  exertions  which,  if  not  attested  by  irrefra- 
gable proofs,  might  appear  incredible.  It  was  the 
statement  of  one  who  knew  him  well,  and  who  was 
incapable  of  wilful  exaggeration,  and  it  is  confirmed 
by  his  letters,  J9urnals,  and  a  "  cloud  of  witnesses," 


TO  HIS  FIRST  SERMON.  39 

that  "  in  the  compass  of  a  single  week,  and  that  for 
years,  he  spoke  in  general  forty  hours,  and  in  very 
many  sixty,  and  that  to  thousands :  and  after  his 
labors,  instead  of  taking  any  rest,  he  was  engaged  in 
offering  up  prayers  and  intercessions,  with  hymns  and 
spiritual  songs,  as  his  manner  was,  in  every  house  to 
which  he  was  invited."  Never  perhaps,  since  the 
apostolic  age,  has  any  man  given  himself  so  entirely 
to  preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ  for  the  salvation  of 
souls,  adopting  as  his  motto  the  language  of  the  apos- 
tle Paul,  "  This  one  thing  I  do." 


40  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  II. 

WHITEFIELD'S  SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER  IN  ENG- 
LAND—FIRST VISIT  TO  AMERICA. 
1736-1738. 

WHITEFIELD,  though  thus  prepared  for  action,  was 
not  impatient,  but  willing  to  wait  till  his  duty  was 
fully  ascertained.  On  the  Wednesday  after  his  first 
sermon  he  went  to  Oxford,  where,  he  says,  "  I  was 
received  with  great  joy  by  my  religious  friends.  For 
about  a  week  I  continued  in  my  servitor's  habit,  and 
then  took  my  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  after  having 
been  at  the  university  three  years  and  three  quarters, 
and  going  on  towards  the  twenty-second  year  of  my 
age.  My  dear  and  honored  friends,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
John  and  Charles  Wesley,  being  now  embarked  for 
Georgia,  and  one  or  two  others  having  taken  orders, 
the  interest  of  Methodism,  as  it  was  then  and  is  now 
termed,  had  visibly  declined,  and  very  few  of  this 
reputedly  mad  way  were  left  at  the  university.  This 
somewhat  discouraged  me  at  times,  but  the  Lord  Jesus 
supported  my  soul,  and  made  me  easy  by  giving  me  a 
strong  conviction  that  I  was  where  he  would  have  me 
to  be.  My  degree,  I  soon  found,  was  of  service  to 
me,  as  it  gave  me  access  to  those  I  could  not  be 
seen  with  when  in  an  inferior  station ;  and  as  oppor- 
tunity offered,  I  was  enabled  to  converse  with  them 
about  the  things  which  belonged  to  the  kingdom  of 
God.  The  subscriptions  for  the  poor  prisoners,  which 


SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER.  41 

amounted  to  about  forty  pounds  per  annum,  were  soon 
put  into  my  hands  ;  two  or  three  charity  schools, 
maintained  by  the  Methodists,  were  under  my  more 
immediate  inspection ;  which,  with  the  time  I  spent  in 
following  my  studies,  private  retirement,  and  religious 
converse,  sweetly  filled  up  the  whole  of  my  day,  and 
kept  me  from  that  unaccountable  but  too  common 
complaint  of  having  any  time  hang  upon  my  hands." 

The  stay  of  Mr.  Whitefield  at  Oxford,  however, 
was  very  short.  He  says,  "  By  a  series  of  unforeseen, 
unexpected,  and  unsought-for  providences,  I  was  called 
in  a  short  time  from  my  beloved  retirement  to  take  a 
journey  to  the  metropolis  of  England.  While  I  was 
an  under-graduate,  among  the  religious  friends,  I  was 
very  intimate  with  one  Mr.  B n,  a  professed  Meth- 
odist, who  had  lately  taken  orders,  and  was  curate  at 
the  Tower  of  London.  With  him,  when  absent,  I 
frequently  corresponded,  and  when  present  took  sweet 
counsel,  and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  as  friends. 
He  mentioned  me  to  that  late  good  and  great  man, 
Sir  John  Phillips ;  and  being  called  down  for  a  while 
into  Hampshire,  he  wrote  to  me  to  be  of  good 
courage,  and  in  the  strength  of  God  bade  me  hasten 
to  town  to  officiate  in  his  absence,  and  to  be  refreshed 
with  the  sight  and  conversation  of  many  who  loved 
me  for  Christ's  sake,  and  had  for  a  long  time  desired 
to  see  me." 

On  his  arrival  in  London,  Whitefield  delivered  his 
first  sermon  there  in  Bishopsgate  church,  on  the  after- 
noon of  Lord's  day,  August  8.  On  entering  the  pul- 
pit, his  juvenile  aspect  excited  a  general  feeling  of  his 
unfitness  for  the  station,  but  he  had  not  proceeded  far 


4 

42  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

in  his  sermon  before  it  gave  place  to  universal  expres- 
sions of  wonder  and  pleasure.  If  however  he  was  thus 
exposed  to  the  danger  of  vanity,  as  he  says,  "  God  sent 
me  something  to  ballast  it.  For  as  I  passed  along 
the  streets,  many  came  out  of  their  shops,  admiring  to 
see  so  young  a  person  in  a  gown  and  cassock.  One 
I  remember  in  particular,  cried  out,  '  There 's  a  boy 
parson ;'  which,  as  it  served  to  mortify  my  pride,  put 
me  also  upon  turning  that  apostolical  exhortation  into 
prayer,  '  Let  no  man  despise  thy  youth.' "  From  his 
first  sermon  to  his  departure,  at  the  end  of  two  months, 
his  popularity  in  London  continued  to  increase,  and 
the  crowds  were  so  vast  that  it  was  necessary  to  place 
constables  both  inside  and  outside  of  the  churches  to 
preserve  the  peace.  He  tells  us  himself,  "  Here  I  con- 
tinued for  the  space  of  two  months,  reading  prayers 
twice  a  week,  catechizing  and  preaching  once,  visiting 
the  soldiers  in  the  infirmary  and  barracks  daily.  I  also 
read  prayers  every  evening  at  Wapping  chapel,  and 
preached  at  Ludgate  prison  every  Tuesday.  God 
was  pleased  to  give  me  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  Tower ;  the  chapel  was  crowded  on 
Lord's  days;  religious  friends  from  divers  parts  of 
the  town  attended  the  word,  and  several  young  men 
came  on  Lord's-day  morning,  under  serious  impres- 
sions, to  hear  me  discourse  about  the  new  birth,  and 
the  necessity  of  renouncing  all  in  affection  in  order 
to  follow  Jesus  Christ." 

The  preaching  of  Mr.  Whitefield  now  excited  an 
unusual  degree  of  attention  among  persons  of  all 
ranks.  In  many  of  the  city  churches  he  proclaimed 
the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  listening  multitudes, 


SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER.  43 

who  were  powerfully  affected  by  the  fire  which  was 
displayed  in  the  animated  addresses  of  this  man  of 
God.  Lord  and  Lady  Huntingdon  constantly  at- 
tended wherever  he  preached,  and  Lady  Anne  Frank- 
land  became  one  of  the  first-fruits  of  his  ministry 
among  the  nobility  of  the  metropolis.  Her  ladyship 
spent  much  of  her  time  with  Lady  Huntingdon,  from, 
whose  society  and  conversation  she  derived  great 
comfort.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Richard,  the  first 
Earl  of  Scarborough ;  was  for  many  years  lady  of  the 
bedchamber  to  the  Princess  Anne,  and  to  the  Prin- 
cesses Amelia  and  Caroline ;  and  finally  became  the 
second  wife  of  Frederic  Frankland,  Esq.,  a  member 
of  Parliament,  from  whose  cruelty  she  endured  much. 

We  have  already  said,  that  some  time  before  this 
Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley  had  embarked  for 
Georgia,  and  to  their  names  we  might  have  added 
that  of  Mr.  Ingham,  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
fraternity  at  Oxford. 

Georgia,  which  was  explored  by  Sir  Walter  Ra- 
leigh in  1584,  had  been  colonized  by  debtors  from 
Europe,  by  multitudes  who  had  fled  from  the  grasp  of 
persecution,  and  by  others  who  were  interested  in 
constructing  a  barrier  against  Spanish  aggression. 
It  originally  had  trustees  in  England,  concerned  for 
its  interests,  including  sons  of  the  nobility.  The  chief 
agent  in  executing  the  benevolent  designs  in  view 
was  the  truly  excellent  General  Oglethorpe,  who  ad- 
mirably carried  out  the  motto  he  gave  to  his  com- 
panions in  the  work,  " Non  sibi  sed  cdiis" — "Not  for 
themselves,  but  for  others."  The  children  of  poverty, 


44  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

taken  from  the  overgrown  agricultural  population, 
already  a  tax  upon  parish  bounty  at  home,  -were  to 
be  transferred  in  large  numbers  to  the  silk  and  indigo 
plantations  which  were  established  on  the  savannahs 
and  bottoms  south  and  west  of  the  river,  which  thence 
derived  its  name  from  the  peculiar  conformation  of  the 
adjoining  plains.  Combined  with  these  leading  pur- 
poses, it  was  a  cherished  principle  with  the  early 
patrons  of  this  colony,  that  it  should  become  the  cen- 
tre for  the  diffusion  of  the  gospel  among  the  natives ; 
while  charitable  foundations  were  also  laid  for  the 
secular  and  religious  education  of  all  who  would  take 
advantage  of  such  provisions.  The  first  Christians 
who  left  Europe  to  advance  the  spiritual  interests  of 
Georgia  were  Moravians,  and  the  next  were  the  Wes- 
leys  and  Ingham.  The  records  of  the  colony,  as 
quoted  in  White's  Historical  Collections  of  Georgia, 
show  that,  Sept.  14,  1735,  Charles  Wesley  was  ap- 
pointed "  Secretary  for  the  Indian  affairs  in  Georgia," 
and  that,  Oct.  10,  1735,  John  Wesley  was  appointed 
"  missionary  at  Savannah." 

Whitefield  had  left  London,  and  was  laboring 
among  a  poor  and  illiterate  people  in  Hampshire, 
when  his  attention  was  directly  drawn  to  Georgia. 
This  was  not,  indeed,  the  first  time  his  heart  had  been 
interested  in  the  matter.  He  writes,  "  When  I  had 
been  about  a  month  in  town,  letters  came  from  the 
Messrs.  Wesley,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ingham  their  fel- 
low-laborer, an  Israelite  indeed,  from  Georgia.  Their 
accounts  fired  my  soul,  and  made  me  long  to  go  abroad 
for  God  too.  But  having  no  outward  call,  and  being 
as  I  then  thought  too  weak  rn  body  ever  to  undertake 


SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER.  45 

a  voyage  at  sea,  I  endeavored  to  lay  aside  all  thoughts 
of  going  abroad.  But  my  endeavors  were  all  in  vain ; 
for  I  felt  at  times  such  a  strong  attraction  in  my  soul 
towards  Georgia,  that  I  thought  it  almost  irresistible. 
I  strove  against  it  with  all  my  power,  begged  again 
and  again,  with  many  cries  and  tears,  that  the  Lord 
would  not  suffer  me  to  be  deluded,  and  at  length 
opened  my  mind  to  several  dear  friends.  All  agreed 
that  laborers  were  wanted  at  home,  that  I  had  as  yet 
no  visible  call  abroad,  and  that  it  was  my  duty  not 
to  be  rash,  but  wait  and  see  what  Providence  might 
point  out  to  me.  To  this  I  consented  with  my  whole 
heart." 

The  path  of  duty,  however,  soon  opened  before 
him.  While  fulfulling  his  duties  at  Dummer,  in  Hamp- 
shire, preaching  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kinchin,  who  was 
now  absent  from  home,  to  which  labors  we  have  al- 
ready referred,  he  received  an  invitation  to  a  lucrative 
curacy  in  London ;  but  Georgia  still  rested  like  one 
of  the  prophetic  "burdens"  on  his  mind.  At  this 
juncture  he  received  a  letter  from  his  clerical  friend 
at  the  Tower,  saying  that  Mr.  Charles  Wesley  had 
arrived  in  London.  Very  soon  Mr.  Wesley  him- 
self wrote  to  Wliitefield,  saying,  that  he  was  come 
over  to  procure  laborers,  "  but,"  added  he,  "  I  dare 
not  prevent  God's  nomination."  "  In  a  few  days  after 
this,"  writes  Mr.  Whitefield,  "  came  another  letter 
from  Mr.  John  Wesley,  wherein  were  these  words: 
'  Only  Mr.  Delamotte  is  with  me,  till  God  shall  stir 
up  the  hearts  of  some  of  his  servants,  who  putting 
their  lives  in  their  hands,  shall  come  over  and  help 
us.  where  the  harvest  is  so  great,  and  the  laborers  so 


46  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD.1 

few.  What  if  thou  art  the  man,  Mr.  Whitefield?' 
In  another  letter  were  these  words :  '  Do  you  ask  me 
what  you  shall  have  ?  Food  to  eat  and  raiment  to 
put  on,  a  house  to  lay  your  head  in — such  as  our  Lord 
had  not — and  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away.' 
Upon  reading  this  my  heart  leaped  within  me,  and  as 
it  were  echoed  to  the  call." 

After  having  consulted  his  bishop,  Dr.  Benson,  as 
also  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  the  trustees 
of  Georgia  including  General  James  Oglethorpe  who 
was  then  in  London,  he  went  to  Bristol,  Bath,  and 
other  places,  to  take  leave  of  his  personal  friends. 
As  he  could  not  refrain  from  preaching,  so  every  ser- 
mon increased  his  popularity.  We  give  his  account 
of  his  preaching  at  Bristol,  as  a  specimen  of  the  recep- 
tion he  met  with. 

"  It  was  wonderful  to  see  how  the  people  hung 
upon  the  rails  of  the  organ-loft,  climbed  upon  the 
leads  of  the  church,  and  made  the  church  itself  so  hot 
with  their  breath,  that  the  steam  would  fall  from  the 
pillars  like  drops  of  rain.  Sometimes  almost  as  many 
would  go  away  for  want  of  room  as  came  in,  and  it 
was  with  great  difficulty  I  got  into  the  desk  to  read 
prayers  or  preach.  Persons  of  all  ranks  not  only 
publicly  attended  my  ministry,  but  gave  me  private 
invitations  to  their  houses.  A  private  society  or  two 
were  erected.  I  preached  and  collected  for  the  poor 
prisoners  in  Newgate  twice  or  thrice  a  week,  and 
many  made  me  large  offers  if  I  would  not  go  abroad." 

Having  mentioned  General  James  Edward  Ogle- 
thorpe, the  first  governor,  and  indeed  the  founder  of 
the  colony  of  Georgia,  and  to  the  end  of  Whitefield's 


SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER.  47 

life  his  cordial  friend,  a  few  additional  facts  concern- 
ing him  may  here  be  stated.  He  was  the  son  of  Sir 
Theophilus  Oglethorpe,  and  was  born  in  London,  De- 
cember 21,  1688.  At  sixteen  he  was  admitted  a  stu- 
dent at  Oxford,  but  did  not  finish  his*  studies,  as  the 
military  profession  had  more  charms  for  him  than 
literary  pursuits.  He  jvas  first  commissioned  as  an  en- 
sign. After  the  death  of  Queen  Anne,  he  entered  into 
the  service  of  Prince  Eugene.  When  he  attained  the 
age  of  twenty-four  years,  he  entered  Parliament,  for 
Haslemere,  where  he  continued  thirty-two  years.  In 
November,  1732,  Oglethorpe,  with  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  settlers,  embarked  for  Georgia,  and  landed  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  January  13,  1733.  They  shortly 
afterwards  proceeded  to  Georgia,  where  Oglethorpe 
laid  out  a  town,  and  called  it  Savannah.  He  very 
happily  secured  the  good  will  of  the  Indians.  In 
1743,  he  left  Georgia  for  England,  to  answer  charges 
brought  against  him  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Cook.  A 
court  martial  declared  the  charges  groundless  and 
malicious,  and  Cook  was  dismissed  from  the  service. 
In  1744  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  field-officers 
under  field-marshal  the  Earl  of  Stair,  to  oppose  the 
expected  invasion  of  France.  He  died  in  1785.  He 
was  truly  a  noble  man. 

As  the  period  approached  when  Whitefield  was  to 
leave  England,  the '  people  showed  their  esteem  for 
him  in  almost  every  possible  way.  They  followed 
him  so  closely,  and  in  such  numbers,  for  holy  counsels, 
that  he  could  scarcely  command  a  moment  for  retire- 
ment. They  begged  to  receive  from  him  religious 
books,  and  to  have  their  names  written  therein  with 


48  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

his  own  hand,  as  memorials  of  him,  and  very  many 
followed  him  from  place  to  place  till  his  final  embar- 
kation. 

It  was  indeed  a  surprising  fact,  that  a  young  man, 
scarcely  more  than  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  pre- 
viously unknown  to  the  world,  should  be  able  to  col- 
lect such  immense  congregations,  and  rouse  and  com- 
mand their  attention ;  multitudes  hanging  upon  and 
receiving  instructions  from  his  lips.  But  God  had 
endowed  him  with  a  singular  union  of  qualities,  which 
most  eminently  fitted  him  for  the  work  of  an  evange- 
list. He  was  faithful  to  his  trust,  and  his  divine  Mas- 
ter abundantly  blessed  and  honored  him  in  the  dis- 
charge of  its  momentous  duties. 

Wo  have  now  traced  the  amazing  effects  of  White- 
field's  first  sermons,  and  it  may  be  interesting  briefly 
to  inquire  into  their  general  character,  and  to  ascer- 
tain what  truths  thus  aroused  the  public  mind.  Three 
of  these  sermons  can,  happily,  be  identified  with  these 
"  times  of  refreshing  ;"  and  they  may  be  depended  on, 
as  specimens  of  both  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  his 
preaching,  because  they  were  printed  from  his  own 
manuscripts :  they  are  those  on  "  Early  Piety"  "  Re- 
generation" and  "Intercession"  Whoever  will  read 
the  appeals  in  these  sermons,  realizing  the  circum- 
stances under  which  they  were  made,  will  scarcely 
wonder  at  the  effect  produced  by  them.  The  topics 
of  the  second  and  third,  and  the  tone  of  all  the  three, 
are  very  different  from  the  matter  and  manner  of  ser- 
monizing then  known  to  the  masses  of  the  people. 
They  do  not  surprise  us,  because  happily  neither  the 
topics  nor  the  tone  of  them  are  "  strange  things  to  our 


SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER.  49 

ears."  Both,  however,  were  novelties  in  those  days, 
even  in  London.  When  or  where  had  an  appeal  been 
made  like,  this  ? 

"  I  beseech  you,  in  love  and  compassion,  to  come 
to  Jesus.  Indeed,  all  I  say  is  in  love  to  your  souls. 
And  if  I  could  be  but  an  instrument  of  bringing  you 
to  Jesus,  I  should  not  envy,  but  rejoice  in  your  happi- 
ness, however  much  you  were  exalted.  If  I  was  to 
make  up  the  last  of  the  train  of  the  companions  of  the 
blessed  Jesus,  it  would  rejoice  me  to  see  you  above 
me  in  glory.  I  could  willingly  go  to  prison  or  to 
death  for  you,  so  I  could  but  bring  one  soul  from  the 
devil's  strong-holds,  into  the  salvation  which  is  by 
Christ  Jesus.  Come  then  to  Christ,  every  one  that 
hears  me  this  night.  Come,  come,  my  guilty  breth- 
ren ;  I  beseech  you,  for  your  immortal  souls'  sake,  for 
Christ's  sake,  come  to  Christ.  Methiuks  I  could 
speak  till  midnight  unto  you.  Would  you  have  me 
go  and  tell  my  Master  that  you  will  not  come,  and 
that  I  have  spent  my  strength  in  vain  ?  I  cannot  bear 
to  carry  such  a  message  to  him.  I  would  not,  indeed, 
I  would  not  be  a  swift  witness  against  you  at  the 
great  day  of  account ;  but  if  you  will  refuse  these 
gracious  invitations,  I  must  do  it." 

In  this  spirit,  not  very  prevalent  even  now,  White- 
field  began  his  ministry.  There  is  a  fascination  as 
well  as  fervor,  or  rather  a  fascination  arising  from 
fervor,  in  some  of  his  earliest  as  well  as  his  later  dis- 
courses. How  bold  and  beautiful  is  the  peroration  of 
that  on  "  Intercession."  Referring  to  the  holy  impa- 
tience of  "  the  souls  under  the  altar,"  for  the  coining 
of  the  kingdom  of  God,  he  exclaims, 

Whiteficld.  3 


50  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

"And  shall  not  we  who  are  on  earth  be  often 
exercised  in  this  divine  employ  with  the  glorious  com- 
pany of  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect?  Since 
our  happiness  is  so  much  to  consist  in  the  communion 
of  saints  in  the  church  triumphant  above,  shall  we  not 
frequently  intercede  for  the  church  militant  below, 
and  earnestly  beg  that  we  may  be  all  one  ?  To  pro- 
voke you  to  this  work  and  labor  of  love,  remember, 
that  it  is  the  never-ceasing  employment  of  the  holy 
and  highly  exalted  Jesus  himself ;  so  that  he  who  is 
constantly  interceding  for  others,  is  doing  that  on 
earth  which  the  eternal  Son  of  God  is  always  doing 
in  heaven.  Imagine,  therefore,  when  you  are  lifting 
up  holy  hands  for  one  another,  that  you  see  the  heav- 
ens opened,  and  the  Son  of  God  in  all  his  glory,  as 
the  great  High-priest  of  your  salvation,  pleading  for 
you  the  all-sufficient  merit  of  his  sacrifice  before  the 
throne.  Join  your  intercession  with  his.  The  imagi- 
nation will  strengthen  your  faith,  and  excite  a  holy 
earnestness  in  your  prayers." 

The  nearer  the  time  approached  for  his  leaving 
the  country,  the  more  affectionate  the  people  grew 
towards  him,  and  the  more  eagerly  did  they  attend  on 
his  ministry.  Many  thousands  of  ardent  petitions 
were  presented  to  heaven  on  behalf  of  his  person  and 
his  ministry  ;  and  multitudes  would  stop  him  in  the 
aisles  of  the  churches,  or  follow  him  with  their  tearful 
looks.  Most  of  all  was  it  difficult  for  him  to  part 
from  his  friends  at  St.  Dunstan's,  where  he  adminis- 
tered the  sacrament,  after  spending  the  night  before 
in  prayer. 

The  man  who  had  produced  these  extraordinary 


SUCCESS  AS  A  PREACHER.  51 

effects,  says  Dr.  Gillies,  had  many  natural  advantages. 
He  was  something  above  the  middle  stature,  well  pro- 
portioned, though  at  that  time  slender,  and  remark- 
able for  native  gracefulness  of  manner.  His  com- 
plexion was  very  fair,  his  features  regular,  his  eyes 
small  and  lively,  of  a  dark  blue  color  :  in  recovering 
from  the  measles,  he  had  contracted  a  squint  with  one 
of  them ;  but  this  peculiarity  rather  rendered  the  ex- 
pression of  his  countenance  more  rememberable,  than 
in  any  degree  lessened  the  effect  of  its  uncommon 
sweetness.  His  voice  excelled  both  in  melody  and 
compass,  and  its  fine  modulations  were  happily  accom- 
panied by  the  grace  of  action  which  he  possessed  in 
an  eminent  degree,  and  which  is  said  to  be  the  chief 
requisite  of  an  orator.  An  ignorant  man  described 
his  eloquence  oddly,  but  strikingly,  when  he  said  that 
Mr.  Whitefield  preached  like  a  lion.  So  strange  a 
comparison  conveyed  no  unapt  idea  of  the  force,  and 
vehemence,  and  passion — of  the  authority  which  awed 
the  hearers,  and  made  them  tremble  like  Felix  before 
the  apostle.  Believing  himself  to  be  the  messenger  of 
God,  commissioned  to  call  sinners  to  repentance,  he 
spoke  as  one  conscious  of  his  high  credentials,  with 
authority  and  power  ;  yet  in  all  his  discourses  there 
was  a  fervor  and  melting  charity,  an  earnestness  of 
persuasion,  an  outpouring  of  redundant  love,  partak- 
ing of  the  virtue  of  the  faith  from  which  it  flowed, 
insomuch  that  it  seemed  to  enter  the  heart  which  it 
pierced,  and  to  heal  it  as  with  a  balm. 

At  length,  having  preached  in  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  London  churches,  collected  about  a  thou- 
sand pounds  for  the  charity  schools,  and  obtained  up- 


52  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

wards  of  three  hundred  pounds  for  the  poor  in  Geor- 
gia, Whitefield  left  London,  December  28,  1737,  in 
the  twenty-third  of  his  age,  and  went  in  the  strength 
of  God,  as  a  poor  pilgrim,  on  board  the  Whitaker.  • 

Scarcely  had  he  entered  on  his  voyage  from  Lon- 
don, when  he  discovered  that  but  little  comfort  was 
to  be  expected  in  the  ship  on  which  he  had  embarked. 
There  was  no  place  for  retirement,  no  disposition  to 
receive  him  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ,  and  a  decided 
dislike  even  to  the  forms  of  religion.  They  moved 
but  slowly  to  the  Downs,  where  they  were  detained 
for  nearly  a  month,  and  where  Whitefield  went  on 
shore  to  visit  Deal,  an  ancient  town,  one  of  the  Cinque- 
ports,  so  called,  where  "the  common  people,"  as  in 
the  case  of  his  great  Master,  "heard  him  gladly." 
With  him,  through  his  whole  ministry,  it  was  of  small 
importance  whether  he  preached  to  the  rich  or  the 
poor  ;  for  he  viewed  the  gospel  as  a  message  of  mercy 
to  sinners,  and  wherever  men  were  found,  he  was  will- 
ing to  persuade  them  to  be  reconciled  to  God. 

The  account  given  by  Mr.  Whitefield  of  his  visit 
to  Deal,  and  of  the  different  treatment  he  received 
there  from  different  persons,  would  be  almost  as  cor- 
rect a  description  of  his  labors  and  reception  in  a 
hundred  other  places.  He  spent  his  first  evening 
very  comfortably  in  religious  conversation  and  family 
prayer,  at  which  a  poor  woman  was  much  affected. 
"  Who  knows,"  he  says,  "  what  a  fire  this  little  spark 
may  kindle?"  Next  evening,  eight  or  nine  poor  peo- 
ple came  to  him  at  the  report  of  this  poor  woman  ; 
and  when,  after  three  or  four  days,  the  ship  in  which 
he  had  embarked  was  driven  back  to  Deal,  many  met 


VOYAGE  TO  GEORGIA.  53 

together  to  bewail  their  own  sins  and  those  of  others. 
Soon  the  landlady  who  owned  the  house  where  he 
lodged,  sent  to  her  tenants,  beseeching  them  not  to 
let  any  more  persons  come  in,  for  fear  the  floor  should 
break  under  them;  and  they  actually  put  a  prop  un- 
der it. 

The  minister  of  Upper  Deal,  a  mile  or  two  from 
the  town,  now  invited  Whitefield  to  preach  in  the 
church ;  it  was  much  crowded,  and  many  went  away 
for  want  of  room.  Some  stood  on  the  leads  of  the 
building  outside,  and  looked  in  at  the  top  windows, 
and  all  around  seemed  eager  to  hear  the  word.  "May 
the  Lord,"  says  the  good  man,  "  make  them  doers  of  it. 
In  the  evening  I  was  obliged  to  divide  my  hearers 
into  four  companies,  and  was  enabled  to  expound  to 
them  from  six  till  ten.  Lord,  keep  me  from  being 
weary  of,  or  in  well-doing." 

The  excitement  at  Deal  became  very  great,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  conviction  of  the  people  that  their 
own  minister,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Carter,  did  not  preach  the 
gospel.  The  good  man,  to  disprove  the  charge,  pub- 
lished a  volume  of  his  sermons,  which,  however  ad- 
mired by  gay  formalists,  furnished  but  too  much  evi- 
dence of  the  justice  of  the  charge. 

Just  as  he  had  left  the  church  at  Upper  Deal, 
where  he  had  been  preaching  to  a  vast  congregation, 
Mr.  Whitefield,  in  consequence  of  a  sudden  change  of 
the  wind,  was  summoned  on  board,  and  the  Whitaker 
sailed  for  Georgia.  A  very  few  hours  afterwards, 
the  vessel  which  brought  back  John  Wesley  from  that 
colony  anchored  in  the  Downs,  when  he  learned  that 
the  ships  had  passed  each  other,  but  neither  of  these 


54  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

remarkable  men  then  knew  how  dear  a  friend  was  on 
board  the  other.  When  Wesley  landed,  he  found  it 
was  still  possible  to  communicate  with  his  friend,  and 
Whitefield  was  surprised  to  receive  a  letter  from  him, 
saying,  "  When  I  saw  God  by  the  wind  which  was 
carrying  you  out  brought  me  in,  I  asked  counsel  of 
God.  His  answer  you  have  enclosed."  The  enclo- 
sure was  a  slip  of  paper  with  the  words,  "  Let  him 
return  to  London,"  which  Wesley  had  obtained  by 
lot,  to  which  he  had  had  recourse.  Whitefield  prayed 
for  direction,  and  went  on  his  voyage. 

This  first  voyage  of  Whitefield  to  America  was  in- 
vested with  scenes  of  far  more  than  common  interest. 
Perhaps,  since  the  apostle  Paul's  memorable  voyage 
to  Rome,  the  ocean  had  never  exhibited  a  more  re- 
markable spectacle  than  that  furnished  by  this  ship. 
He  was  but  a  stripling  in  his  twenty-third  year,  and 
a  faint  and  hesitating  homage  once  on  a  Sabbath-day, 
from  a  few  of  the  less  obdurate  sinners  among  his 
hearers,  would  be  all  that  such  a  clergyman  could 
expect  from  an  assemblage  of  gentlemen,  of  soldiers 
with  their  wives  and  families,  and  the  ship's  crew. 
Yet  in  the  hands  of  this  remarkable  youth  all  be- 
came pliant  as  a  willow.  He  converted  the  chief 
cabin  into  a  cloister,  the  deck  into  a  church,  and  the 
steerage  into  a  school-room.  He  so  bore  down  all 
opposition  by  love,  reason,  and  Scripture,  that  we 
soon  see  him,  at  the  request  of  the  captain  and  offi- 
cers, with  the  hearty  concurrence  of  the  gentlemen 
who  were  passengers,  reading  "  full  public  prayers " 
to  them  twice  a  day  in  the  great  cabin,  and  expound- 
ing every  night  after  the  evening  prayers,  besides  daily 


VOYAGE  TO  GEORGIA.  55 

reading  prayers,  and  preaching  twice  a  day  on  deck 
to  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  increasing  the  services 
on  Sundays.  In  addition  to  all  this,  he  daily  cate- 
chized a  company  of  young  soldiers,  and  engaged  in  the 
same  exercise  with  the  women  apart  by  themselves. 

Nor  did  even  all  this  suffice  to  expend  his  zeal, 
for  he  commenced  a  course  of  expositions  on  the  creed 
and  ten  commandments ;  and  so  convinced  was  he  of 
the  value  of  catechetical  teaching,  that  on  February  3d 
he  writes,  "  I  began  to-night  to  turn  the  observations 
made  on  the  lessons  in  the  morning  into  catechetical 
questions,  and  was  pleased  to  hear  some  of  the  soldiers 
make  very  apt  answers." 

Nor  were  the  children  forgotten;  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Habersham,  a  personal  friend  who  accompanied  him, 
assumed  their  instruction  as  his  department  of  holy 
labor.  Mr.  Whitefield  wrote  of  him,  that  he  was 
"  pleased  to  see  Mr.  Habersham  so  active  in  teaching 
the  children.  He  has  now  many  scholars — may  God 
bless  him." 

Friendship  for  Whitefield  had  influenced  Mr.  Hab- 
ersham to  accompany  the  young  evangelist  to  Geor- 
gia. Mr.  Habersham's  friends,  at  Beverly,  in  York- 
shire, where  he  was  born  in  1712,  were  greatly  op- 
posed to  his  plans,  but  surely  the  hand  of  God  directed 
them.  He  presided  over  the  Orphan-house  till  1744, 
when  he  entered  into  a  commercial  partnership.  He 
occupied  several  important  stations,  till  he  became 
president  of  the  colony  in  1769.  The  proceedings 
connected  with  the  revolutionary  war  more  than  once 
placed  him  in  great  difficulties ;  he  did  not  live  to  see 
its  happy  results,  for  in  1775  the  state  of  his  health 


56  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

^v 

compelled  him  to  visit  the  north,  in  hope  of  its  reno- 
vation. The  change,  however,  was  of  no  benefit,  and 
he  died  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  August  28, 
1775.  The  "  Gazette  "  of  the  day  said  of  him,  "  In  the 
first  stations  of  the  province  he  conducted  himself  with 
ability,  honor,  and  integrity,  which  gained  him  the  love 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens ;  nor  was  he  less  dis- 
tinguished in  private  life  by  a  conscientious  discharge 
of  the  social  duties,  as  a  tender  and  affectionate  par- 
ent, a  sincere  and  warm  friend,  and  a  kind  and  indul- 
gent master.  Mr.  Habersham  was  married  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  to  Mary  Bolton  at  Bethesda,  on 
the  26th  of  December,  1740,  by  whom  he  had  ten  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom,  sons,  survived  him,  and  were 
zealous  in  the  cause  of  American  liberty." 

In  harmony  with  the  solemn  duties  which  Mr. 
Whitefield  had  assumed,  he  watched  over  the  conduct 
of  all  around  him.  He  tells  us  that  the  ship's  cook 
was  awfully  addicted  to  drinking,  and  when  reproved 
for  this  and  other  sins,  he  boasted  that  he  would  be 
wicked  till  within  two  years  of  his  death,  and  would 
then  reform.  Alas,  he  died  on  the  voyage,  after  an 
illness  of  six  hours,  brought  on  by  drinking. 

One  day  on  this  voyage,  finding  on  Captain  Whit- 
ing's pillow  "  The  Independent  Whig,"  Whitefield  ex- 
changed it  for  a  book  entitled  "  The  Self-Deceiver." 
The  next  morning,  the  captain  came  smiling  and  in- 
quired who  made  the  exchange.  Mr.  Whitefield  con- 
fessed the  fact,  and  begged  his  acceptance  of  the  book, 
which  he  said  he  had  read,  and  liked  very  well.  From 
thenceforward  a  visible  alteration  took  place  in  the 
conduct  of  the  captain. 


VOYAGE  TO  GEORGIA.  57 

On  their  arrival  at  Gibraltar,  where  they  had  to 
continue  some  time,  Mr.  Whitefield  found  that  Major 
Sinclair,  without  solicitation,  had  provided  a  lodging 
for  him,  and  the  governor  and  military  invited  him 
to  their  table.  Being  apprehensive  that  at  a  public 
military  table  he  might  be  more  than  hospitably 
treated,  to  prevent  any  thing  disagreeable,  he  remind- 
ed his  excellency  that,  at  the  court  of  Ahasuerus, 
"  none  did  compel."  The  governor  took  the  hint,  and 
pleasantly  replied,  "  No  compulsion  of  any  kind  shall 
be  used  at  my  table  ;"  and  every  thing  was  conducted 
with  the  greatest  propriety.  Here  he  often  preached, 
and  was  heard  by  many,  including  all  in  high  offices. 
Unusual  indeed  were  the  scenes,  both  with  respect  to 
the  place  and  the  people.  The  adjacent  promonto- 
ries, and  the  vastness  of  the  rock  of  Gibraltar,  aided 
in  the  enlargement  of  the  ideas  of  the  preacher  as 
to  Him,  who  "in  his  strength  setteth  fast  the  moun- 
tains, and  is  girded  about  with  power."  And  the 
place  being  a  sort  of  public  rendezvous  of  all  na- 
tions, he  thought,  he  says,  "he  saw  the  world  in 
epitome." 

The  success  of  Whitefield's  ministry  at  Gibraltar 
was  truly  remarkable.  He  quaintly  says  of  it,  "  Sam- 
son's riddle  was  fulfilled  there  :  '  out  of  the  strong 
came  forth  sweetness.7  Who  more  unlikely  to  be 
wrought  upon  than  soldiers?  And  yet,  among  any 
set  of  people,  I  have  not  been  where  God  has  made 
his  power  more  known.  Many  that  were  quite  blindj 
have  received  their  sight ;  many  that  had  fallen  back, 
have  repented  and  turned  to  the  Lord  again ;  many 
that  were  ashamed  to  own  Christ  openly,  have  waxed 
3* 


58  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

bold ;  and  many  saints  have  had  their  hearts  filled 
with  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of  glory." 

Among  ofher  religious  societies  to  which  White- 
field  was  introduced  at  Gibraltar,  he  one  day  attended 
the  Jewish  synagogue,  and  was  agreeably  surprised 
when  one  of  the  rulers  handed  him  into  the  chief  seat.  ( 
The  rabbi  had  the  day  before  heard  him  preach  against 
profane  swearing,  and  now  thanked  him  for  his  ser- 
mon. He  remained  in  the  synagogue  during  the  whole 
service,  engaged,  he  says,  "  in  secret  prayer  that  the 
veil  might  be  taken  from  the  heart  of  the  Jews,  and 
they  grafted  again  into  their  own  olive-tree." 

Several  facts  occurred  on  the  way  to  Savannah 
after  their  embarkation  from  Gibraltar,  which  are  too 
interesting  to  pass  without  notice.  On  one  occasion 
Captain  Mackay,  after  Whitefield  had  preached  against 
drunkenness,  urged  the  men  to  attend  to  the  things 
which  had  been  spoken  ;  telling  them  that  he  was  a 
notorious  swearer  until  he  did  so  ;  and  beseeching 
them  for  Christ's  sake  to  give  up  their  sins.  On 
another  occasion,  while  marrying  a  couple  on  deck, 
Whitefield  suddenly  shut  the  prayer-book  in  the  midst 
of  the  ceremony,  because  the  bridegroom  had  behaved 
with  levity ;  and  not  until  the  laughter  was  turned 
into  weeping,  would  he  proceed.  At  the  close  of  the 
service  he  gave  the  bride  a  Bible.  When  a  shark 
was  caught,  with  five  pilot-fish  clinging  to  its  fins,  he 
said,  "  Go  to  the  pilot-fish,  thou  that  forsakest  a  friend 
in  adversity ;  consider  his  ways,  and  be  abashed." 
When  a  dolphin  was  caught,  the  change  of  its  hues 
from  lovely  to  livid,  reminded  him  to  say,  "Just  so  is 
man  ;  he  flourishes  for  a  little  while,  but  when  death 


IN  GEORGIA.  59 

cometh,  how  quickly  his  beauty  is  gonel  A  Christian 
may  learn  instruction  from  every  thing  he  meets  with." 
While  he  was  preaching  on  the  death  of  Christ  dark- 
ness came  on,  and  he  said,  "  It  puts  me  in  mind  of  that 
darkness  which  overwhelmed  the  world  when  the  God 
of  nature  suffered." 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  voyage,  fever  laid  pros- 
trate all  in  the  ship  except  four  persons,  and  at 
length  it  seized  Whitefield,  and  confined  him  to  his 
bed  for  a  week.  The  attack,  though  short,  must  have 
been  severe  ;  for  besides  other  remedies,  he  was  bled 
three  times.  During  his  illness,  the  captain  gave  up 
his  own  bed  to  him,  and  Mr.  Habersham  watched  him 
day  and  night ;  but  that  which  gratified  him  most 
was,  that  the  sick  between  decks,  whom  he  had  endan- 
gered his  life  to  console,  prayed  for  him  with  great 
fervor.  He  recovered,  and  repaid  the  kindness  of  all. 
At  length,  on  May  5,  they  came  in  sight  of  Savannah 
river,  and  sent  off  for  a  pilot ;  and  such  was  the  joy 
of  all,  when  they  came  to  anchor  at  Tybee  island,  that 
he  could  not  help  exclaiming,  "  How  infinitely  more 
joyful  will  the  children  of  God  be,  when,  having  passed 
through  the  waves  of  this  troublesome  world,  they 
arrive  at  the  haven  of  everlasting  rest!"  Though 
still  weak,  he  preached  a  farewell  sermon  to  his  "  red- 
coated  and  blue-jacketed  parishioners,"  as  he  called 
his  military  and  naval  congregation.  It  was  heard 
with  floods  of  tears. 

Upon  this  voyage,  says  Dr.  Gillies,  he  made  these 
reflections  many  years  after  :  "  Even  at  this  distance 
of  time,  the  remembrance  of  the  happy  hours  I  enjoyed 
in  religious  exercises  on  deck,  is  refreshing  to  my 


60  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

soul ;  and  although  nature  sometimes  relented  at  being 
taken  from  my  friends,  and  I  was  little  accustomed  to 
the  inconveniences  of  a  sea-life,  yet,  a  consciousness 
that  I  had  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  souls  in 
view,  afforded  me,  from  time  to  time,  unspeakable 
satisfaction." 

Whitefield  was  cordially  welcomed  at  Savannah 
by  Delamotte  and  other  friends  of  the  Wesleys  :  the 
magistrates  also  offered  to  wait  upon  him  to  pay  their 
respects ;  but  this  he  declined,  and  waited  upon  them. 
They  agreed  to  build  him  a  tabernacle  and  a  house  at 
Frederica,  and  to  accept  his  services  at  Savannah  as 
long  as  he  pleased.  He  was  soon,  however,  again 
laid  aside  by  the  return  of  his  fever,  now  accompanied 
with  ague.  This  attack  in  a  few  days  brought  him 
so  low,  and  made  so  great  an  alteration  in  his  person, 
that  he  says,  "  Had  my  friends  seen  me  at  that  hour, 
they  might  have  learned  not  to  have  any  man's  person 
in  admiration,  and  not  to  think  more  highly  of  me 
than  they  ought  to  think." 

The  first  thing  which  Whitefield  did  after  his  re- 
covery was  to  visit  Tomo-Chici,  the  Indian  king,  then 
on  his  death-bed.  This  was  the  micoe,  or  king,  whom 
Oglethorpe  had  taken  to  England,  in  1734,  and  intro- 
duced to  king  George  the  Second.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  son,  and  seven  other  Indians 
of  the  Creek  nation.  His  eloquent  speech  to  the 
king  and  queen  was  so  well  received  at  court,  that  he 
was  loaded  with  presents,  and  when  he  had  again  to 
embark,  was  sent  in  one  of  the  royal  carriages  to 
Gravesend.  "  He  now  lay,"  says  Whitefield,  "  on  a 
blanket,  thin  and  meagre  ;  little  else  but  skin  and 


IN  GEORGIA.  61 

bones.  Senanki,  his  wife,  sat  by,  fanning  him  with 
Indian  feathers.  There  was  no  one  could  talk  Eng- 
lish, so  I  could  only  shake  hands  with  him  and  leave 
him.  A  few  days  after  wards, -Mr.  Whitefield  again 
went  to  visit  Tomo-Chici,  and  found  that  his  nephew, 
Tooanoowee,  could  speak  English.  Whitefield  says,  "I 
desired  him  to  ask  his  uncle,  whether  he  thought  he 
should  die  ;  who  answered,  '  J  cannot  tell.'  I  then 
asked  where  he  thought  he  should  go  after  death. 
He  replied, '  To  heaven.'  But  alas,  how  can  a  drunk- 
ard enter  there?  I  then  exhorted  Tooanoowee,  who 
is  a  tall,  proper  youth,  not  to  get  drunk  ;  telling  him 
that  he  understood  English,  and  therefore  would  be 
punished  the  more  if  he  did  not  live  better.  I  then 
asked  him  whether  he  believed  in  a  heaven.  He  said, 
'  Yes.'  I  then  asked  whether  he  believed  in  a  hell, 
and  described  it  by  pointing  to  the  fire.  He  replied, 
1  No.'  From  whence  we  may  easily  gather,  how  nat- 
ural it  is  to  all  mankind  to  believe  there  is  a  place  of 
happiness,  because  they  wish  it  to  be  so ;  and  on  the 
contrary,  how  averse  they  are  to  believe  in  a  place  of 
torment,  because  they  wish  it  may  not  be  so.  But 
God  is  just  and  true ;  and  as  surely  as  the  righteous 
shall  go  away  into  everlasting  happiness,  so  the  im- 
penitently  wicked  shall  go  into  everlasting  punish- 
ment." 

The  records  of  Georgia  say,  under  date  of  Decem- 
ber 21,  1737,  "Ordered,  that  a  license  be  made  out 
for  the  Rev.  Mr.  George  Whitefield  to  perform  eccle- 
siastical offices  in  Georgia,  as  a  deacon  in  the  church 
of  England." 

Before   Whitefield   had   any   thoughts   of  going 


62  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

abroad,  Charles  Wesley  talked  to  him  of  an  orphan- 
house  in  Georgia,  which  he  and  General  Oglethorpe 
had  contemplated.  When  he  arrived  in  Savannah, 
and  had  sufficiently  -recovered  from  his  illness  to 
examine  the  state  of  the  colony,  the  condition  of  the 
children  deeply  affected  him  ;  and  he  set  his  heart  on 
founding  the  projected  institution  as  soon  as  he  should 
be  able  to  collect  the.  needful  funds.  In  the  mean 
time  he  opened  schools  in  the  villages  of  Highgate 
and  Hampstead,  and  one  also,  for  girls,  in  Savannah. 
He  afterwards  visited  the  Saltzburgher's  orphan- 
school  at  Ebenezer  ;  and  if  any  thing  had  been  want- 
ed to  settle  his  own  determination,  or  to  inflame  his 
zeal,  he  found  it  there.  The  Saltzburghers  were  ex- 
iles for  conscience'  sake,  and  were  eminent  for  piety 
and  industry.  Their  ministers,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Gre- 
naw  and  Boltzius,  were  eminently  evangelical,  and 
their  asylum,  which  they  had  been  enabled  to  found 
by  British  benevolence,  for  widows  and  orphans,  was 
flourishing.  Whitefield  was  so  delighted  with  the 
order  and  harmony  of  Ebenezer,  that  he  gave  a  share 
of  his  own  "  poor's  store  "  to  Boltzius,  for  his  orphans. 
Then  came  the  scene  which  entirely  completed  his 
purpose :  Boltzius  "  called  all  the  children  before  him ; 
catechized  and  exhorted  them  to  give  God  thanks  for 
his  good  providence  towards  them  ;  then  prayed  with 
them,  and  made  them  pray  after  him ;  then  sung  a 
psalm.  Afterwards,  the  little  lambs  came  and  shook 
me  by  the  hand,  one  by  one,  and  so  we  parted." 
Whitefield  was  now  pledged  to  this  cause  for  life. 

Most  of  our  readers  probably  know  that  the  con- 
ductors of"  The  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  a  work  which 


IN  GEORGIA.  63 

has  now  been  regularly  published  in  London  for  much 
more  than  a  century,  have  never  been  favorable  to 
evangelical  truth,  or  its  ministers ;  it  is  therefore  the 
more  gratifying  to  copy  from  that  work  for  Novem- 
ber, 1737,  the  following  lines:  it  will  be  seen  that 
they  were  published  more  than  a  month  before  Mr. 
Whitefield's  departure  to  the  American  colonies. 

"TO    THE    REV.   MR.   WHITEF1ELD,    ON    HIS    DESIGN 
FOR  GEORGIA. 

"  How  great,  how  just  thy  zeal,  adventurous  youth, 
To  spread  in  heathen  climes  the  light  of  truth ! 
Go,  loved  of  heaven,  with  every  grace  refined, 
Inform,  enrapture  each  dark  Indian's  mind ; 
Grateful,  as  when  to  realms  long  hid  from  day, 
The  cheerful  dawn  foreshows  the  solar  ray. 
How  great  thy  charity,  whose  large  embrace 
Intends  the  eternal  weal  of  all  thy  race ; 
Prompts  thee  the  rage  of  waves  and  winds  to  scorn, 
To  effect  the  work  for  which  thy  soul  was  born. 
What  multitudes,  whom  Pagan  dreams  deceive, 
Shall,  when  they  hear  thy  heavenly  voice,  believe! 
On  Georgia's  shore  thy  Wesley  shall  attend, 
To  hail  the  wished  arrival  of  his  friend ; 
With  joy  the  promised  harvest  he  surveys, 
And  to  his  Lord  for  faithful  laborers  prays ; 
Though  crowded  temples  here  would  plead  thy  stay, 
Yet  haste,  blest  prophet,  on  thy  destined  way. 
Be  gentle,  winds,  and  breathe  an  easy  breeze, 
Be  clear,  ye  skies,  and  smooth,  ye  flowing  seas ! 
From  heaven,  ye  guardian  angels,  swift  descend, 
Delighted  his  blest  mission  to  attend ; 
Which  shall  from  Satan's  power  whole  nations  free, 
While  half  the  world  to  Jesus  bow  the  knee. 
Long  as  Savannah,  peaceful  stream,  shall  glide, 
Your  worth  renowned  shall  be  extended  wide ; 


64  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Children  as  yet  unborn  shall  bless  your  lore, 
Who  thus  to  save  them  left  your  native  shore ; 
The  apostles  thus,  with  ardent  zeal  inspired, 
To  gain  all  nations  for  their  Lord  desired. 
They  measured  seas,  a  life  laborious  knew, 
And  numerous  converts  to  their  Master  drew ; 
Whose  hallelujahs,  on  the  ethereal  plains, 
•    Rise  scarce  beneath  the  bright  seraphic  strains. 
"  GLOUCESTER,  Nov.  1, 1737." 

After  spending  a  few  weeks  at  Savannah,  laboring 
as  much  as  his  health  would  permit,  Whitefield  went 
to  Frederica,  where  he  was  gladly  received  ;  the  peo- 
ple "  having  had  a  famine  of  the  word  for  a  long  sea- 
son." They  had  no  sanctuary,  and  therefore  he  had 
to  preach  under  a  tree,  or  in  Mr.  Habersham's  house. 
This  visit,  although  short,  endeared  him  to  all  the 
people  ;  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  before  he  left,  to 
see  them  "  sawing  timber  for  a  commodious  place  of 
worship,  until  a  church  could  be  built."  His  return, 
however,  to  Savannah  was  hastened  by  a  somewhat 
'  painful  event.  One  of  his  friends  was  lost  in  the 
woods,  and  missing  from  Tuesday  till  Friday.  The 
great  guns  had  been  fired  to  direct  the  wanderer,  but 
in  vain ;  and  some  of  the  people  had  searched  for  him 
day  and  night,  without  success.  This  report  was  sent 
to  "Whitefield,  and  it  hurried  him  away  from  Frederica. 
He  had  the  pleasure,  however,  on  his  arrival  at  Savan- 
nah, to  find  his  "  lost  sheep." 

During  the  stay  of  Whitefield  in  Georgia,  the 
weather  was  intensely  hot,  sometimes  almost  burning 
his  feet  through  his  shoes.  Seeing  others  do  it,  he 
determined  to  accustom  himself  to  hardship  by  lying 
constantly  on  the  floor  ;  which  by  use  he  found  to  be 


IN  GEORGIA.  65 

so  far  from  being  uncomfortable,  that  afterwards  it 
became  so  to  lie  on  a  bed.  Nor  was  he  more  ready 
to  deny  himself  than  he  was  assiduous  to  do  good ; 
preaching  often,  catechizing  the  young,  visiting  the 
sick,  and  exhorting  from  house  to  house.  Entirely 
independent  and  unrestrained,  he  knew  no  fear  in  the 
discharge  of  what  he  regarded  as  his  duty.  Knowing 
that  some  men  of  influence,  to  whom  his  voice  could 
not  be  addressed  from  the  pulpit,  were  living  in  open 
defiance  of  morality  and  shame,  he  went  into  the 
court  and  made  an  address  to  the  grand  jury,  urging 
them  to  present  all  such  offenders  without  partiality 
or  fear,  since  the  miserable  state  of  the  colony  was 
doubtless  owing  to  divine  displeasure  against  their 
sins. 

Reflection  on  the  character,  labors,  and  success  of 
his  predecessors,  stimulated  his  zeal  and  encouraged 
his  hope.  It  could  not  be  denied  that  John  Wesley 
had  been  misrepresented  and  unkindly  treated,  both 
in  Savannah  and  Frederica,  and  Whitefield  therefore 
rejoiced  to  bear  honorable  testimony  of  him  and  his 
colleagues.  He  says,  "  Surely  I  must  labor  most 
heartily,  since  I  come  after  such  worthy  men.  The 
good  Mr.  John  Wesley  has  done  in  America  is  inex- 
pressible. His  name  is  very  precious  among  the  peo- 
ple, and  he  has  laid  such  a  foundation,  that  I  hope 
neither  men  nor  devils  will  be  able  to  shake  it.  0 
that  I  may  follow  him  as  he  has  followed  Christ." 

Mr.  Whitefield  having  as  yet  only  received  dea- 
con's orders,  and  wishing  to  be  ordained  priest,  for 
the  more  complete  performance  of  his  duty  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  church  of  England,  it  became  necessary 


66  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

for  him  to  return  to  Europe  for  that  purpose ;  and 
being  also  desirous  of  making  collections  for  his  Or- 
phan-house, he  left  Mr.  Habersham  at  Savannah,  and 
went  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  on  his  way  to  England. 

At  Charleston  he  became  acquainted  with  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Garden,  the  ecclesiastical  commissary  of 
the  Bishop  of  London,  who  with  apparent  cordiality 
twice  invited  him  into  his  pulpit,  and  assured  him 
that  he  would  defend  him  with  his  life  and  property, 
should  the  same  arbitrary  proceedings  ever  be  com- 
menced against  him  which  Mr.  Wesley  had  met  with 
in  Georgia.  Dr.  Deems,  in  his  recently  published 
volume,  "The  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,"  tells 
us,  when  speaking  of  his  first  sermon,  "  The  people  at 
first  despised  his  youth,  but  his  engaging  address  soon 
gained  their  general  esteem,  and  Mr.  Garden  thanked 
him  most  cordially."  In  an  after-period,  however, 
when  Mr.  Garden  more  fully  understood  the  evan- 
gelical character  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching,  he 
frequently  took  occasion  to  point  out  what  he  called 
the  pernicious  tendency  of  his  doctrines,  and  irregular 
manner  of  life.  He  represented  him  as  a  religious 
quack,  who  had  an  excellent  way  of  setting  off  and 
rendering  palatable  his  poisonous  tenets.  On  one 
occasion  Garden,  to  keep  his  flock  from  going  after 
this  strange  pastor,  preached  from  the  text,  "  These 
that  have  turned  the  world  upside  down  are  come 
hither  also."  Whitefield,  however,  was  not  to  be 
silenced  in  this  way,  and  returned  the  compliment  by 
preaching  from  the  words,  "Alexander  the  copper- 
smith did  me  much  evil;  the  Lord  reward  him  ac- 
cording to  his  works." 


RETURN  TO  ENGLAND  67 

On  September  6,  1738,  Whitefield  embarked  for 
London.  The  voyage  was  perilous  in  the  extreme. 
They  were  tossed  about  with  bad  weather,  in  a  ship 
out  of  repair,  and  in  sad  want  of  provisions.  When 
they  were  over  about  one-third  of  the  Atlantic,  a  ves- 
sel from  Jamaica  would  have  gladly  received  him, 
but  he  chose  to  share  the  lot  of  his  shipmates.  They 
highly  valued  his  services,  and  one  of  his  fellow-pas- 
sengers, Captain  Gladman,  became,  as  the  result  of 
this  voyage,  a  truly  pious  man.  The  captain,  in  a 
subsequent  period,  at  his  own  earnest  request,  became 
the  fellow-traveller  of  his  teacher. 

After  a  passage  of  about  nine  weeks,  they  made 
the  port  of  Limerick,  in  Ireland.  "  I  wish,"  White- 
field  says,  "I  could  never  forget  what  I  felt  when 
water  and  provisions  were  brought  us  from  the  shore. 
Mr.  M'Mahon,  a  country  gentleman,  came  from  his 
seat  at  midnight  on  purpose  to  relieve  us,  and  most 
kindly  invited  me,  though  unknown,  to  his  house,  to 
stay  as  long  as  I  pleased."  At  Limerick  he  was  cor- 
dially received  by  that  worthy  prelate,  Bishop  Birs- 
cough,  who  engaged  him  to  preach  at  the  cathedral. 
From  thence  he  went  to  Dublin,  where  he  preached, 
and  was  hospitably  entertained  by  Archbishop  Bolton, 
Bishop  Rundel,  and  Dr.  Delany. 

Remaining  but  a  short  time  in  Ireland,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  London,  where  he  arrived  December  8. 
Here  he  had  the  pleasure  of  conversing  with  some  of 
the  Moravian  brethren,  whose  faith  and  love  refreshed 
his  spirit,  though  he  did  not  entirely  approve  some 
of  their  views.  He  soon  discovered  somewhat  of  a 
change  of  feeling  towards  him  on  the  part  of  many  of 


68  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  London  clergy.  Within  two  days,  he  found  five 
of  the  churches  were  closed  against  him.  He  called 
on  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  the  Bishop  of 
London,  who  received  him  with  cold  civility.  The 
bishop  asked  him  if  his  journals  were  not  tinctured 
with  enthusiasm  ;  and  he  replied,  with  his  usual  meek- 
ness and  candor,  that  they  were  written  only  for  his 
own  use,  and  that  of  his  private  friends,  and  that  they 
were  published  without  his  knowledge.  So  anxious 
was  he  to  avoid  giving  offence,  that  he  took  the  ear- 
liest opportunity  to  expunge  from  his  journals  what- 
ever he  discovered  to  be  erroneous,  and  whatever  he 
had  said  without  imperative  necessity,  or  which  was 
likely  to  injure  the  character  and  feelings  of  any  one. 

The  trustees  of  Georgia,  at  a  meeting  in  London, 
received  Whitefield  with  great  cordiality,  and  in  com- 
pliance with  the  wishes  of  the  colonists,  they  present- 
ed him  with  the  living  of  Savannah,  the  salary  of  which 
he  declined  to  receive  ;  but  he  thankfully  accepted 
five  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  proposed  to 
erect  his  orphan-house. 

On  Sunday,  January  14,  1739,  being  then  in  his 
twenty-fifth  year,  Whitefield  was  ordained  priest  at 
Oxford,  by  his  worthy  friend  Bishop  Benson.  Hav- 
ing preached  twice  to  very  crowded  congregations, 
and  administered  the  Lord's  supper  at  the  castle,  he 
returned  to  London  the  next  day.  As  Dr.  Benson 
once  expressed  regret  that  he  had  ordained  Mr. 
Whitefield,  it  may  be  proper  here  to  explain  the  cir- 
cumstances. Shortly  after  the  late  Countess  of  Hun- 
tingdon first  became  acquainted  with  the  truth  as  it 
is  in  Jesus,  Bishop  Benson,  who  had  been  lord  Hun- 


RETURN  TO  ENGLAND.  69 

tingdon's  tutor,  was  sent  for  to  remonstrate  with  her 
ladyship,  and  to  induce  her  to  relinquish  what  were 
then  considered  her  erroneous  views ;  but  she  pressed 
him  so  hard  with  the  Articles  and  Homilies  of  his  own 
church,  and  so  plainly  and  faithfully  urged  upon  him 
the  awful  responsibility  of  his  station,  that  for  the 
moment  his  mind  was  hurt,  and  he  rose  up  to  depart, 
lamenting  that  he  had  ever  laid  his  hands  upon  George 
Whitefield,  to  whom  he  imputed  the  change  which  had 
been  wrought  in  her  ladyship.  "  My  lord,"  said  she, 
"mark  my  words;  when  you  come  upon  your  dying 
bed,  that  will  be  one  of  the  few  ordinations  you  will 
reflect  upon  with  pleasure."  It  would  seem  that  it 
was  so;  for,  on  his  death-bed,  the  Bishop  sent  ten 
guineas  to  Mr.  Whitefield  as  a  token  of  his  favor  and 
approbation,  and  begged  to  be  remembered  by  him  in 
his  prayers. 

The  interval  between  his  taking  priests'  orders, 
and  embarking  a  second  time  for  Georgia,  was  em- 
ployed by  Whitefield,  with  his  usual  energy  and  suc- 
cess, in  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  in  making  collections  for  his  Orphan-house.  Hav- 
ing, before  his  visit  to  America,  collected  large  sums 
for  the  charity  schools  in  the  metropolis,  he  naturally 
expected  that  the  pulpits  would  not  be  denied  him 
now,  in  which  to  plead  the  interests  of  his  own  poor. 
But  he  was  scarcely  yet  aware  that  the  tide  of  cleri- 
cal opinion  had  turned  so  extensively  and  strongly 
against  him.  The  doctrines  he  had  preached,  and  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  preached  them,  had  produced 
a  sensation  so  strong,  that  he  found  himself  excluded 
from  most  of  the  churches  in  London.  A  few,  how- 


70  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ever,  were  yet  open  to  him  for  his  benevolent  design. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Broughton  conducted  himself,  among 
others,  very  nobly.  Having  been  urged  to  refuse  his 
pulpit,  as  some  of  his  neighbors  had  done,  he  boldly 
replied,  that  "  having  obtained  the  lectureship  of  St. 
Helen's  by  Whitefield's  influence,  he  should  have  the 
pulpit  if  he  desired  it."  Mr.  Whitefield  preached, 
but  Mr.  Broughton  thus  losing  the  lectureship,  White- 
field  blamed  himself  for  having  done  so.  Whatever 
he  might  himself  be  willing  to  suffer,  he  was  not  will- 
ing to  inflict  inconvenience  on  others. 

Only  a  few  days  before  his  being  ordained  as 
priest,  Whitefield  offered  his  first  public  extempore 
prayer,  in  a  large  meeting  in  Red  Cross-street,  Lon- 
don. He  mentions  this  fact  in  a  note  of  his  diary  as 
"  the  first  time  I  ever  prayed  extempore  before  such 
a  number."  He  did  not  even  then  suppose  that  his 
preaching,  as  well  as  his  prayers  in  this  manner,  were 
to  develop  his  mighty  power.  The  crowding  of  the 
churches  now  suggested  the  idea  of  preaching  in  the 
open  air.  He  says,  "  When  I  was  informed  that 
nearly  a  thousand  people  stood  out  in  the  church- 
yard, and  that  hundreds  returned  home,  this  put  me 
first  upon  thinking  of  preaching  without  doors.  I 
mentioned  it  to  some  friends,  who  looked  upon  it  as  a 
mad  motion.  However,  we  kneeled  down  and  prayed 
that  nothing  might  be  done  rashly.  Hear  and  an- 
swer, 0  Lord,  for  thy  name's  sake." 

We  shall  soon  see  how  his  extempore  expositions 
and  prayers  were  fitting  him  for  this  new  enterprise. 
He  would  have  commenced  in  London  now,  but  he 
lacked  a  fair  opportunity. 


FIRST  OPEN-AIR  PREACHING.  71 


CHAPTER  III. 

OPEN-AIR  PREACHING  IN  ENGLAND  AND  WALES- 
ERECTION  OF  THE  TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON. 

1738-1739. 

UNDER  the  circumstances  we  have  related  iii  our 
last  chapter,  Whitefield  paid  another  visit  to  Bristol, 
and  soon  found  that  he  had  to  meet  with  new  and 
very  unexpected  opposition.  When  he  arrived  in  the 
city,  the  chancellor  of  the  diocese,  while  he  did  not 
approve  of  what  he  considered  his  irregular  conduct, 
told  him  that  he  would  not  prohibit  any  clergyman 
from  lending  him  his  church  ;  but  in  a  few  days  after- 
wards he  sent  for  the  evangelist,  and  announced 
his  entire  opposition  to  his  movements.  Strangely 
enough,  he  now  asked  Whitefield  by  what  authority 
he  preached  in  the  diocese  of  Bristol  without  a  license. 
The  reply  of  the  intrepid  minister  was,  that  he  sup- 
posed such  a  custom  had  become  obsolete,  and  asked 
the  chancellor  in  his  turn,  "  And  pray,  sir,  why  did 
you  not  ask  the  clergyman  who  preached  for  you  last 
Thursday  this  question  ?"  The  chancellor  then  read 
to  him  the  canons  which  forbid  any  clergyman  from 
preaching  in  a  private  house;  to  which  Whitefield 
replied,  that  he  did  not  suppose  these  canons  referred 
to  professed  ministers  of  the  church  of  England  ;  and 
when  the  chancellor  told  him  he  was  mistaken,  he 
reminded  his  superior,  "There  is  also  a  canon,  sir, 
forbidding  all  clergymen  to  frequent  taverns  and  play 
at  cards ;  why  is  not  that  put  in  execution  ?"  And 


72  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

he  then  added,  that  notwithstanding  any  canons  to 
the  contrary,  he  could  not  but  speak  the  things  which 
he  knew,  and  that  he  was  resolved  to  proceed  as  usual. 
His  answer  was  written  down,  and  the  chancellor 
closed  the  interview  with  the  words,  "  I  am  resolved, 
sir,  if  you  preach  or  expound  anywhere  in  this  dio- 
cese till  you  have  a  license,  I  will  first  suspend,  and 
then  excommunicate  you."  The  crisis  was  now  come  ; 
the  Rubicon  had  been  passed,  and  the  inquiry  might 
well  be  made,  "  What  will  Whitefield  now  do  ?" 

Already  have  we  seen  that  he  had  earnestly  de- 
sired, in  London,  to  preach  in  the  open  air,  for  want 
Df  room  in  the  churches,  and  indeed  also  from  the 
opposition  of  the  clergy,  which  had  begun  so  strongly 
to  manifest  itself ;  and  during  this  journey  to  Bristol, 
he  found  it  necessary  to  preach  in  the  open  air  or  not 
at  all.  As  this  event  was  of  vast  importance  in  its 
results,  both  in  his  own  history  and  that  of  Mr.  Wes- 
ley, who  also  began  to  preach  on  the  same  spot  within 
two  months  after  Whitefield  had  opened  the  way,  we 
must  stay  a  while  to  narrate  the  facts. 

At  that  time,  the  colliers  of  Kingswood,  near  the 
city  of  Bristol,  were  a  most  depraved  and  reckless 
class  of  men.  Inconceivably  barbarous  and  ignorant, 
they  trampled  on  all  laws,  human  and  divine,  and 
hesitated  not  to  set  the  magistrates  at  defiance.  It 
was  dangerous  to  pass  near  the  scene  of  their  labors, 
even  in  open  day,  for  robberies  and  murders  were  of 
frequent  occurrence ;  in  a  word,  it  was  truly  "  a  seat 
of  Satan."  When  Whitefield  was  at  Bristol,  making 
collections  for  his  projected  orphan  institution  in 
Georgia,  not  a  few  persons  had  said  to  him,  "  Why 


TABERNACLE,    p   89. 


HANHAM  MOUNT 


FIRST  OPEN-AIR  PREACHING.  73 

go  abroad  ;  have  we  not  Indians  enough  at  home  ? 
If  you  have  a  mind  to  convert  Indians,  there  are  col- 
liers enough  in  Kingswood."  "  I  thought,"  says  he, 
4tit  might  be  doing  the  service  of  my  Creator,  who 
had  a  mountain  for  his  pulpit,  and  the  heavens  for  his 
sounding-board,  and  who,  when  his  gospel  was  refused 
by  the  Jews,  sent  his  servants  into  the  highways  and 
hedges."  After  much  prayer  and  many  inward  strug- 
gles, he  went  one  day  to  a  gentle  elevation  on  the 
south  side  of  Kingswood,  called  Hanham  Mount,  and 
there,  under  an  old  sycamore-tree,  he  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  the  open  air  to  about  a  hundred  col- 
liers. The  scene  must  have  been  very  impressive. 
Before  him  stretched  the  rich  and  beautiful  valley  of 
the  Avon,  through  which  the  river  was  gently  wind- 
ing, bordered  in  the  distance  by  the  undulating  hills ; 
while  on  his  right  and  left  the  cities  of  Bath  and 
Bristol  were  within  sight. 

The  fact  of  his  preaching  here  soon  and  extensively 
spread,  and  at  meeting  after  meeting  his  audience  in- 
creased, till  he  found  himself  addressing  nearly  twenty 
thousand  persons.  His  own  account  of  the  effects  pro- 
duced is  very  striking.  He  says,  "  The  first  discovery 
of  their  being  affected,  was  in  the  white  gutters  made 
by  their  tears,  which  plentifully  fell  down  their  black 
cheeks,  as  they  came  out  of  their  coal  pits.  Hundreds 
and  hundreds  of  them  were  soon  brought  under  deep 
convictions,  which  happily  ended  in  sound  and  thor- 
ough conversion.  As  the  scene  was  quite  new,  and 
I  had  just  begun  to  be  an  extempore  preacher,  I  had 
often  many  inward  conflicts.  Sometimes,  when  twenty 
thousand  people  were  before  me,  I  had  not,  as  I 

Whitefield.  4 


74  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

thought,  a  word  to  say ;  but  I  was  never  deserted ; 
and  I  was.  often  so  assisted  as  to  understand  what 
that  meaneth,  'Out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of 
living  water.'  The  open  firmament  above ;  the  pros- 
pect of  the  adjacent  fields ;  with  the  sight  of  thousands 
and  thousands,  some  in  coaches,  some  on  horseback, 
and  some  in  the  trees,  and  all  so  affected  as  to  be 
drenched  in  tears  together,  to  which  sometimes  was 
added  the  solemnity  of  the  approaching  night,  were 
almost  too  much  for  me;  I  was  occasionally  all  but 
overcome."  Writing  to  Mr.  Wesley  a  few  weeks 
afterwards,  he  says,  "  Yesterday  I  began  to  play  the 
madman  in  Gloucestershire,  by  preaching  on  a  table 
in  Thornbury-street.  To-day  I  have  exhorted  twice, 
and  by  and  by  I  shall  begin  a  third  time;  nothing 
like  doing  good  by  the  way.  I  suppose  you  have 
heard  of  my  proceedings  in  Kingswood." 

We  scarcely  need  to  remark  here,  that  Kingswood 
has  ever  since  been  regarded  as  a  sacred  spot  in  ec- 
clesiastical history.  Here  houses  for  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odists and  Independents  were  soon  erected,  and  in 
them  thousands  have  been  converted  to  God.  Here 
was  placed  the  first  school  for  the  sons  of  Methodist 
preachers,  and  on  Hanham  Mount,  besides  the  voice  of 
Whitefield,  those  of  the  Wesleys,  Coke  and  Mather, 
Pawson  and  Benson,  and  Bradburn,  accomplished  some 
of  the  mightiest  effects  which  attended  their  powerful 
preaching.  There  are  yet  some  living  in  the  neigh- 
borhood who  were  awakened  under  their  ministry,  and 
whose  eyes  glisten  as  they  tell  of  the  blessed  days  that 
are  past. 

Besides  the  colliers,  and  thousands  from  the  neigh- 


PREACHING  IN  WALES.  15 

boring  villages,  persons  of  all  ranks  daily  flocked  out 
of  Bristol.  And  he  was  soon  invited  by  many  of  the 
most  respectable  people  to  preach  on  a  large  bowling- 
green  in  the  city  itself.  Many  of  the  people  indeed 
sneered  to  see  a  stripling  with  a  gown  mount  a  table 
on  unconsecrated  ground ;  this  even  excited  once  or 
twice  the  laugh  of  some  of  the  higher  ranks,  who  had 
admired  him  in  the  churches.  But  he  was  unmoved, 
and  his  preaching  was  so  blessed,  that  many  were 
awakened.  Sometimes  he  was  employed  almost  from 
morning  till  night  answering  those  who,  in  distress  of 
soul,  cried  out,  "  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  Ho 
now  sought  the  help  of  Mr.  John  Wesley,  who,  after 
much  reasoning  with  himself  on  the  subject,  complied 
with  the  invitation,  and  followed  Whitefield's  exam- 
ple, who  immediately  committed  the  work  to  him. 
Before  leaving  the  neighborhood,  however,  White- 
field  had  the  satisfaction  of  laying  the  foundation  of 
a  school  for  Kingswood  ;  for  the  support  of  which  the 
colliers  liberally  and  cheerfully  subscribed. 

Taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  his  Bristol  friends, 
Whitefield  made  an  excursion  into  Wales,  where  a 
revival  of  religion  had  commenced  several  years  be- 
fore, under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Griffith  Jones, 
and  was  now  carried  on  by  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Howel 
Harris,  a  man  of  strong  mental  powers,  great  Christian 
zeal,  and  considerable  learning.  They  met  at  Cardiff. 
Whitefield's  heart  was  then  glowing  with  the  fire  he 
had  himself  kindled  at  Bristol  and  Kingswood.  On 
his  way  from  Bristol  to  Cardiff,  he  was  delayed  at  the 
New  Passage  by  contrary  winds.  He  says,  "  At  the 
inn  there  was  an  unhappy  clergyman  who  would  not 


76  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

go  over  in  the  passage-boat,  because  I  was  in  it.  Alas, 
thought  I,  this  very  temper  would  make  heaven  itself 
unpleasant  to  that  man,  if  he  saw  me  there.  I  was 
told  that  he  charged  me  with  being  a  dissenter.  I 
saw  him,  soon  after,  shaking  his  elbows  over  a  gaming- 
table. I  heartily  wish  those  who  charge  me  cause- 
lessly with  schism  and  being  righteous  overmuch, 
would  consider  that  the  canons  of  our  church  forbid 
the  clergy  to  frequent  taverns,  or  to  play  at  cards  or 
dice,  or  any  other  unlawful  games.  Their  indulging 
themselves  in  these  things  is  a  stumbling-block  to 
thousands." 

We  have  said  that  Whitefield  first  met  Howel 
Harris  at  Cardiff.  After  preaching  in  the  town-hall, 
from  the  judges'  seat,  he  says,  "  I  was  much  refreshed 
with  the  sight  of  Mr.  Howel  Harris  ;  whom,  though 
I  knew  not  in  person,  I  have  long  loved,  and  have 
often  felt  my  soul  drawn  out  in  prayer  in  his  behalf.  .  . 
When  I  first  saw  him,  my  heart  was  knit  closely  to 
him.  I  wanted  to  catch  some  of  his  fire,  and  gave 
him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  with  my  whole  heart. 
After  I  had  saluted  him,  and  given  an  exhortation  to 
a  great  number  of  people,  who  followed  me  to  the  inn, 
we  spent  the  remainder  of  the  evening  in  taking  sweet 
counsel  together,  and  telling  one  another  what  God 
had  done  for  our  souls.  A  divine  and  strong  sympa- 
thy seemed  to  be  between  us,  and  I  was  resolved  to 
promote  his  interest  with  all  my  might.  Accordingly 
we  took  an  account  of  the  several  societies,  and  agreed 
on  such  measures  as  seemed  most  conducive  to  pro- 
mote the  common  interest  of  our  Lord.  Blessed  be 
God,  there  seems  a  noble  spirit  gone  out  into  Wales ; 


PREACHING  IN  WALES.  If 

and  I  believe  that,  ere  long,  there  will  be  more  visible 
fruits  of  it.  What  inclines  me  strongly  to  think  so 
is,  that  the  partition  wall  of  bigotry  and  party  spirit 
is  broken  down,  and  ministers  and  teachers  of  differ- 
ent communions  join,  with  one  heart  and  one  mind,  to 
carry  on  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  Lord 
make  all  the  Christian  world  thus  minded  ;  for,  until 
this  is  done,  we  must,  I  fear,  despair  of  any  great 
reformation  in  the  church  of  God." 

Before  leaving  Cardiff,  Whitefield  preached  again 
in  the  town-hall,  to  a  large  assembly.  He  says,  "  My 
dear  brother  Harris  sat  close  by  me.  I  did  not  ob- 
serve any  scoffers  within;  but  without,  some  were 
pleased  to  honor  me  so  far  as  to  trail  a  dead  fox,  and 
hunt  it  about  the  hall.  But,  blessed  be  God,  my  voice 
prevailed.  This  being  done,  I  went,  with  many  of  my 
hearers,  among  whom  were  two  worthy  dissenting 
ministers,  to  public  worship ;  and  in  the  second  les- 
son were  these  remarkable  words :  '  The  high-priests, 
and  the  scribes,  and  the  chief  of  the  people  sought  to 
destroy  him ;  but  they  could  not  find  what  they  might 
do  to  him ;  for  all  the  people  were  very  attentive  to 
hear  him.' 

"  In  the  afternoon  I  preached  again,  without  any 
disturbance  or  scoffing.  In  the  evening,  I  talked  for 
above  an  hour  and  a  half  with  the  religious  society, 
and  never  did  I  see  a  congregation  more  melted 
down.  The  love  of  Jesus  touched  them  to  the  quick. 
Most  of  them  were  dissolved  in  tears.  They  came  to 
me  after,  weeping,  bidding  me  farewell,  and  wishing  I 
could  continue  with  them  longer.  Thanks  be  to  God, 
for  such  an  entrance  into  Wales.  I  wrestled  with  God 


78  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

for  them  in  prayer,  and  blessed  be  His  holy  name  for 
sending  me  into  Wales.  I  hope  these  are  the  first- 
fruits  of  a  greater  harvest,  if  ever  it  should  please 
God  to  bring  me  back  from  Georgia.  '  Father,  thy 
will  be  done.'" 

Whitefield  returned  from  this  short  excursion,  to 
Bristol,  baptized  with  Welsh  fire,  and  renewed  his 
labors  among  the  Kingswood  colliers  with  more  than 
his  usual  power  and  success.  He  could  not,  however, 
forget  the  tears  which  had  entreated  him  to  stay  lon- 
ger in  Wales,  and  in  three  or  four  weeks  he  visited 
Usk  and  Pontypool,  where  he  was  again  met  by  Howel 
Harris.  At  Usk,  "  the  pulpit  being  denied,  I  preached 
upon  a  table,  under  a  large  tree,  to  some  hundreds, 
and  God  was  with  us  of  a  truth.  On  my  way  to  Pon- 
typool, I  was  informed  by  a  man  who  heard  it,  that 

Counsellor  H did  me  the  honor  to  make  a  public 

motion  to  Judge  P to  stop  me  and  brother  Howel 

Harris  from  going  about  teaching  the  people.  Poor 
man,  he  put  me  in  mind  of  Tertullus,  in  the  Acts ;  but 
my  hour  is  not  yet  come.  I  have  scarcely  begun  my 
testimony.  For  my  finishing  it,  my  enemies  must 
have  power  over  me  from  above.  Lord,  prepare  me 
for  that  hour." 

The  report  to  which  we  have  just  referred  did  not 
prevent  the  curate  of  Pontypool  from  cordially  invit- 
ing Whitefield  into  his  pulpit.  He  also  read  prayers 
for  him.  After  the  sermon,  it  was  found  that  so  many 
had  come  to  hear  who  could  not  find  room  in  the 
church,  that  another  sermon  was  loudly  called  for. 
He  says,  "  I  went  and  preached  to  all  the  people  in 
the  field.  I  always  find  I  have  most  power  when  I 


PREACHING  IN  GLOUCESTER.        79 

preach  in  the  open  air ;  a  proof  to  me  that  God  is 
pleased  with  this  way  of  preaching.  I  betook  myself 
to  rest,  full  of  such  unutterable  peace  as  no  one  can 
conceive  of  but  those  who  feel  it." 

In  several  other  places  did  our  evangelist,  during 
this  excursion,  unfurl  the  banner  of  the  cross  ;  and  at 
its  close  he  writes,  "  Oh  how  swiftly  this  week  has 
glided  away.  To  me  it  has  been  but  as  one  day. 
How  do  I  pity  those  who  complain  that  time  hangs 
on.  their  hands!  Let  them  but  love  Christ,  and 
spend  their  whole  time  in  his  service,  and  they  will 
find  but  few  melancholy  hours."  Nor  will  any  won- 
der that  he  should  thus  speak,  who  consider  the  spirit 
which  animated  his  soul.  What  he  some  time  after- 
wards wrote  to  Howel  Harris,  from  Philadelphia,  in- 
dicated the  spirit  he  himself  cherished :  "  Intersperse 
prayers  with  your  exhortations,  and  thereby  call  down 
fire  from  heaven,  even  the  fire  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
" '  To  soften,  sweeten,  and  refine, 
And  melt  them  into  love.' 

Speak  every  time,  my  dear  brother,  as  if  it  were  your 
last ;  weep  out,  if  possible,  every  argument,  and  compel 
them  to  cry,  '  Behold  how  he  loveth  us.' " 

From  Wales,  Whitefield  went  to  visit  his  native 
city,  Gloucester;  and  after  one  or  two  sermons,  he 
found  himself  here  also  excluded  from  the  parochial 
pulpits.  But  notwithstanding  his  persecutions,  and 
the  infirm  state  of  his  health  at  that  time,  his  labors 
in  Gloucester  and  its  vicinity  were  constant  and  emi- 
nently successful.  Bowling-greens,  market-crosses, 
highways,  and  other  such  places,  bore  witness  to  his 
faithful  and  tearful  labors. 


80  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

At  Gloucester  lived  at  that  time  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cole,  an  old  dissenting  minister,  who  often  heard 
Whitefield  preach,  and  used  to  say,  "These  are  the 
days  of  the  Son  of  man  indeed  1"  Whitefield,  when  a 
boy,  had  been  taught  to  ridicule  this  Mr.  Cole ;  and 
when  he  was  once  asked  what  profession  he  would 
engage  in,  replied,  "  I  will  be  a  minister,  but  I  will 
take  care  never  to  tell  stories  in  the  pulpit  like  old 
Cole."  Twelve  years  afterwards,  the  old  minister 
heard  the  young  one  preach,  and  tell  some  story  to 
illustrate  his  subject,  when  the  venerable  servant  of 
Christ  remarked,  "  I  find  young  Whitefield  can  tell 
stories  now  as  well  as  old  Cole."  The  good  man 
was  much  affected  with  the  preaching  of  his  young 
friend,  and  was  so  humble,  that  he  used  to  subscribe 
himself  his  curate,  and  went  about  in  the  country  preach- 
ing after  him.  One  evening,  while  preaching,  he  was 
struck  with  death,  and  asked  for  a  chair  to  lean  on 
till  he  had  finished  his  sermon.  Having  done  this,  he 
was  carried  up  stairs  and  died.  When  the  fact  was 
told,  to  Whitefield,  he  said,  "  0  blessed  God,  if  it  be 
thy  holy  will,  may  my  exit  be  like  his !"  How  striking 
is  this  fact  when  looked  at  in  connection  with  the  cir- 
cumstances of  his  own  removal  from  earth. 

Intent  on  the  advancement  of  his  orphan-house  in 
Georgia,  Whitefield  soon  went  to  London,  passing  on 
his  way  through  Oxford.  At  both  places  he  found 
opposition,  and  in  London  was  shut  out  of  the  churches. 
He  preached  to  thousands  in  Islington  churchyard, 
and  now  resolved  to  give  himself  to  the  work  in  the 
open  air. 

From  the  conflict  with  the  enemies  who  a  few 


PREACHING  IN  LONDON.  81 

years  before  had  threatened  her  existence,  the  po- 
lemics of  th'e  church  of  England  now  turned  to  resist 
the  unwelcome  ally  who  menaced  her  repose.  Bishop 
"\Varburton  led  the  van,  and  behind  him  many  a  mitred 
front  scowled  on  the  audacious  innovator.  Divested 
of  the  logomachies  which  chiefly  engaged  the  attention 
of  the  disputants,  the  controversy  between  Whitefield 
and  the  bishops  lay  in  a  narrow  compass.  It  being 
mutually  conceded  that  the  virtues  of  the  Christian 
life  can  result  only  from  certain  divine  impulses,  and 
that  to  lay  a  claim  to  this  holy  inspiration  when  its 
legitimate  fruits  are  wanting,  is  a  fatal  delusion,  he 
maintained,  and  they  denied,  that  the  person  who  is 
the  subject  of  this  sacred  influence  has  within  his  own 
bosom  an  independent  attestation  of  its  reality.  So 
abstruse  a  debate  required  the  zest  of  some  more  pun- 
gent ingredients,  and  the  polemics  with  whom  White- 
field  had  to  do  were  not  such  sciolists  in  their  calling 
as  to  be  ignorant  of  the  necessity  of  riveting  upon 
him  some  epithet  at  once  opprobrious  and  vague. 
While  therefore  milder  spirits  arraigned  him  as  an 
enthusiast,  Warburton,  with  constitutional  energy  of 
invective,  denounced  him  as  a  fanatic.  In  vain  White- 
field  demanded  a  definition  of  these  reproachful  terms. 
To  have  fixed  their  meaning  would  have  been  to  blunt 
their  edge.  They  afforded  a  solution,  at  once  com- 
pendious, obscure,  and  repulsive,  of  whatever  was  re- 
markable in  his  character,  and  have  been  associated 
with  his  name  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

The  spots  on  which  Whitefield  now  began,  in  his 
own  language,  "to  take  the  field,"  and  publicly  to 
erect  the  standard  of  the  Redeemer's  cross,  are  well 
4* 


82  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

known.  Moorfields,  then  a  place  of  general  rendezvous 
and  recreation  from  the  crowded  city,  feennington 
Common  then  about  two,  and  Blackheath  about  five 
miles  from  London,  were  the  favorite  sites  to  which 
he  loved  to  resort,  und  "  open  his  mouth  boldly "  to 
listening  thousands,  in  honor  of  his  crucified  and 
glorified  Lord.  Recording  his  first  engagement  of 
this  kind  in  his  diary  of  Sabbath  evening,  April  29, 
1739,  he  writes,  "  Begun  to  be  yet  more  vile  this  day, 
for  I  preached  at  Moorfields  to  an  exceeding  great 
multitude  ;  and  at  five  in  the  evening  went  and  preach- 
ed at  Kennington  Common,  where  upwards  of  twenty 
thousand  were  supposed  to  be  present.  The  wind 
being  for  me,  it  carried  my  voice  to  the  extreme  part 
of  my  audience.  All  stood  attentive,  and  joined  in 
the  psalm  and  the  Lord's  prayer  so  regularly,  that  I 
scarce  ever  preached  with  more  quietness  in  a  church. 
Many  were  much  affected. 

"•For  this  let  men  revile  my  name, 
I  '11  shun  no  cross,  I  '11  fear  no  shame ; 
All  hail,  reproach,  and  welcome  pain, 
Only  thy  terrors,  Lord,  restrain.'  " 

For  several  successive  months,  the  places  we  have 
named  were  his  chief  scenes  of  action.  At  a  moder- 
ate computation,  the  audience  frequently  consisted  of 
twenty  thousand.  It  is  said  that  the  singing  could 
be  heard  two  miles,  and  the  voice  of  the  preacher 
nearly  one.  Sometimes  there  were  upwards  of  a  hun- 
dred coaches,  besides  wagons,  scaffolds,  and  other 
contrivances  by  which  a  sight  of  him  could  be  ob- 
tained. The  rising  ground  on  Blackheath,  from  which 
Whitefield  preached,  is  still  known  as  "  Whitefield's 


PREACHING  IN  LONDON.  83 

mount,"  and  after  his  death,  Lord  Dartmouth  planted 
it  with  fir-trees.  It  will  ever  be  a  grateful  recollec- 
tion to  the  author  of  this  volume,  that  during  the 
summer  of  1839  he  prevailed  on  some  of  the  most  em- 
inent ministers  of  England  to  preach  on  every  succes- 
sive Monday  evening  on  this  hallowed  spot ;  and  that 
here  many  thousands  then  heard  the  way  of  salvation, 
and  not  a  few  were  brought  to  the  cross  of  Christ. 
In  that  immediate  neighborhood  too,  now  densely 
populated,  he  organized,  and  for  some  years  preached 
to  a  Christian  church.  Memorable  times!  Many 
were  the  manifestations  .of  the  Redeemer's  favor. 

An  anecdote  which  we  heard  many  years  ago  from 
one  of  Whitefield's  Blackheath  hearers,  may  here  be 
related.  While  one  day  preaching  on  "  the  heath," 
there  passed  along  the  road  at  some  distance,  an  old 
man  and  "Mary"  his  wife,  with  their  ass  and  his 
loaded  panniers,  returning  from  London  to  their  home 
in  Kent.  Attracted  alike  by  the  crowd  and  the 
preacher's  voice,  the  old  man  and  his  wife  turned  a 
little  out  of  their  way  to  hear  "what  the  man  was 
talking  ajoout."  Whitefield  spoke  of  somewhat  which 
occurred  eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  and  the  old 
man  said,  "  Mary,  come  along,  it  is  only  something 
which  happened  a  long  while  ago  ;"  but  Mary's  atten- 
tion had  been  arrested,  and  she  wished  to  stay  a  min- 
ute or  two  longer.  They  were  both  soon  in  tears, 
and  the  inquiry  was  excited  in  their  hearts,  "What 
shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?"  On  their  way  home,  while 
"  talking  of  all  these  things,"  the  old  man  recollected 
his  neglected  Bible,  and  asked,  "Why,  Mary,  does 
not  our  old  book  at  home  say  somewhat  about  these 


84  .  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

things?"  They  went  home,  and  examined  the  old  book 
with  new  light.  "  Why,  Mary,"  asked  the  old  man, 
"  is  this  indeed  our  old  book  ?  why,  every  thing  in  it 
seems  quite  new."  So  true  is  it,  that  the  teaching  of 
the  Spirit  gives  new  discernment  as  to  the  truths  of 
divine  revelation. 

A  fact  strikingly  illustrating  the  children's  love 
to  our  evangelist  may  be  here  mentioned.  In  his 
open-air  preachings,  especially  in  and  about  London, 
he  was  usually  attended  by  many  of  them,  who  sat 
round  him,  in  and  about  the  pulpit,  and  handed  to 
him  the  notes  of  those  who  .desired  his  counsels  and 
prayers.  These  children  were  exposed  to  the  missiles 
with  which  he  was  often  assailed,  but  however  terri- 
fied they  might  be,  or  even  hurt,  they  seldom  shrunk ; 
"  but,"  says  he,  "  on  the  contrary,  every  time  I  was 
struck,  they  turned  up  their  little  weeping  eyes,  and 
seemed  to  wish  they  could  receive  the  blows  for  me." 

Speaking  of  his  open-air  labors,  the  devoted  preach- 
er says,  "  Words  cannot  express  the  displays  of  divine 
grace  which  we  saw,  and  heard  of,  and  felt.  Lord,  not 
unto  me,  but  unto  thy  name  be  all  the  glory."  £)n  a  sub- 
sequent occasion  he  writes,  "  We  have  had  a  glorious 
season,  a  true  Easter.  Jesus  Christ  is  risen  indeed. 
I  have  been  preaching  in  Moorfields,  and  our  Saviour 
carries  all  before  us.  Nothing  can  resist  his  conquer- 
ing blood.  It  would  have  delighted  you  to  see  poor 
sinners  flock  from  the  booths  to  see  Jesus  lifted  up  on 
the  pole  of  the  gospel."  The  climax  of  his  success 
there,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  letters  that  ever 
came  from  a  mortal's  pen.  He  records  at  its  close, 
"  We  then  retired  to  the  Tabernacle,  with  my  pockets 


TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON.  85 

full  of  notes  from  persons  brought  under  concern,  and 
read  them  amidst  the  praises  and  spiritual  acclama- 
tions of  thousands,  who  joined  with  the  holy  angels  in 
rejoicing  that  so  many  sinners  were  snatched,  in  such 
an  unexpected,  unlikely  place  and  manner,  out  of  the 
very  jaws  of  the  devil.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  Tabernacle  society.  Three  hundred  and  fifty 
awakened  souls  were  received  in  one  day  ;  and  I  be- 
lieve the  number  of  notes  exceeded  a  thousand.  But 
I  must  have  done,  believing  you  want  to  retire,  to  join 
in  mutual  praise  with  me  in  thanksgiving  to  God  and 
the  Lamb." 

Having  thus  introduced  the  name  of  the  Taberna- 
cle, it  is  important  that  the  reader  should  be  acquaint- 
ed with  the  origin  of  the  buildings  which  have  borne 
that  name.  From  the  very  first  of  what  may  be  called 
his  irregular  labors,  Whitefield  always  declared  that 
he  "  would  never  be  the  founder  of  a  sect."  He  kept 
his  word  ;  yet  two  London  churches  remain  as  his 
memorial — the  Tabernacle,  and  Tottenham  Court-road 
chapel,  the  one  in  the  north,  and  the  other  in  the  wes- 
tern part  of  the  metropolis.  The  Tabernacle,  which 
was  first  erected,  was  his  more  especial  and  favorite 
field  of  labor,  and  he  dwelt  in  the  house  adjoining  it, 
which  is  still  the  pastoral  residence. 

Moorfields,  just  without  the  limits  of  the  old  north 
city  wall  of  London,  was,  a  few  years  before  White- 
field  first  knew  it,  a  marsh,  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  was  absolutely  impassable.  Having 
been  partially  drained,  a  brick  kiln  was  erected,  and 
the  first  bricks  used  in  London  are  said  to  have  been 
manufactured  there.  Afterwards  it  was  a  field  for 


86  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  practice  of  archery,  when  it  was  laid  out  in  walks, 
and  called  the  City  Mall.  Though  improved  in  name 
and  appearance,  it  became  the  rallying  ground  for  the 
rabble  of  London ;  wrestlers,  boxers,  and  mounte- 
banks, the  idle,  the  dissolute,  and  the  profane,  held 
here  their  daily  and  nightly  revels.  It  appeared,  in 
fact,  to  be  one  of  the  strong-holds  of  Satan,  and  there- 
fore became  a  most  tempting  and  important  point  of 
attack  for  the  daring  eloquence  of  Whitefield.  All 
London  rang  one  day  with  the  announcement  that 
Whitefield  would  preach  the  day  following  at  Moor- 
fields. 

This  was  in  January,  1739.  Gillies  says,  "The 
thing  being  strange  and  new,  he  found,  on  coming  out 
of  the  coach,  an  incredible  number  of  people  assem- 
bled. Many  told  him  that  he  would  never  come  out 
of  that  place  alive.  He  went  in,  however,  between 
two  friends,  who  by  the  pressure  of  the  crowd  were 
soon  parted  from  him  entirely,  and  obliged  to  leave 
him  to  the  mercy  of  the  rabble.  But  these,  instead  of 
hurting  him,  formed  a  lane  for  him,  and  carried  him 
along  to  the  middle  of  the  fields,  where  a  table  had 
been  placed.  This,  however,  having  been  broken  by 
the  crowd,  he  mounted  a  wall,  and  preached  to  an 
exceeding  great  multitude  in  tones  so  melting,  that 
his  words  drew  tears  and  groans  from  the  most  aban- 
doned of  his  hearers.  Moorfields  became  henceforth 
one  of  the  principal  scenes  of  his  triumphs.  Thirty 
thousand  people  sometimes  gathered  together  to  hear 
him,  and  generous  contributions  here  poured  in  for 
his  orphan-house  at  Bethesda.  On  one  occasion 
twenty  pounds — about  one  hundred  dollars — were  re- 


TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON.  87 

ceived  in  half-pennies,  more  than  one  person  was  able 
to  carry  away,  and  enough  to  put  one  out  of  conceit 
with  a  specie  currency." 

It  was  not  till  his  fifth  visit  to  London,  in  March, 
1741,  that  Whitefield  ventured  to  preach  in  Moor- 
fields  on  a  week-day;  the  day  selected  for  this  bold 
action  being  Good-Friday.  His  chief,  if  not  his  only 
friends  on  this  occasion,  he  tells  us,  were  a  few 
"  orthodox  dissenters."  These  people  perceiving  the 
inconvenience  to  which  he  was  subjected  by  the 
weather,  during  the  morning  and  evening  services  in 
Moorfields,  procured  the  loan  of  a  piece  of  ground, 
and  employed  a  carpenter  to  build  a  large  temporary 
shed,  to  screen  the  auditory  from  the  cold  and  rain. 
This  building  Whitefield  called  a  "  tabernacle,"  as  it 
was  only  intended  to  be  used  a  few  months  during  his 
stay  in  his  native  country,  previous  to  his  return  to 
America.  Providence,  however,  had  otherwise  deter- 
mined, and  this  proved  the  commencement  of  a  per- 
manent establishment  of  the  means  of  grace.  A  great 
spiritual  awakening  took  place ;  congregations  be- 
came very  large,  acquiring  at  the  same  time  consider- 
able cohesion,  and  assuming  a  stationary  character. 
This  original  fabric  of  wood  was  a  place  of  ~large 
dimensions  ;  and  notwithstanding  its  rude  aspect  and 
temporary  design,  it  sufficed  for  the  accommodation  of 
Whitefield  and  his  flock,  during  the  twelve  succeeding 
years — a  period  the  most  brilliant  and  useful  of  his 
extraordinary  career. 

Some  of  Whitefield's  friends,  however,  did  not 
approve  of  the  original  wooden  structure ;  and  an- 
ticipating or  desiring  the  formation  of  a  Christian 


88  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

church,  they  called  for  the  immediate  erection  of  a 
substantial  brick  building,  a  point  which  was  debated 
with  a  warmth  approaching  to  violence,  of  which 
Whitefield  makes  pathetic  mention  seven  years  after- 
wards. Here  then  several  important  facts  are  estab- 
lished :  that  the  original  tabernacle  sprang  not  from 
Whitefield,  but  from  a  voluntary  movement  among  his 
adherents,  composed  chiefly,  if  not  wholly,  of  Protes- 
tant dissenters ;  that  the  expense  was  borne  not  by 
him,  but  by  them ;  that  much  debate  and  dissension 
attended  the  measure,  proving  the  thoroughly  free 
and  popular  character  of  the  original  movement ;  and 
that,  as  the  edifice  originated  with  the  people  alone, 
so  did  the  institution  of  regular  worship.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  fears  existed  in  the  mind  of  Whitefield  as  to 
the  success  of  such  an  organization ;  but  the  results 
most  happily  disappointed  his  expectations. 

The  subject  of  the  erection  of  a  more  spacious 
edifice  in  the  place  of  the  tabernacle  of  wood,  was 
first  discussed  at  the  mansion  of  Lady  Huntingdon,  in 
Leicestershire,  when  Drs.  Doddridge  and  Stonehouse, 
and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hervey  and  Whitefield  happen- 
ed to  meet  together,  in  the  summer  of  1751.  During 
the  following  winter,  Whitefield  began  to  make  col- 
lections for  the  object,  and  on  almost  its  first  presenta- 
tion in  London,  nine  hundred  pounds,  or  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  were  subscribed.  "  But," 
he  says,  "  on  the  principle  that  burned  children  dread 
the  fire,  I  do  not  mean  to  begin  until  I  get  one  thou- 
sand in  hand,  and  then  to  contract  at  a  certain  sum 
for  the  whole."  The  fact  was,  that  Whitefield  had 
often  been  in  great  straits  for  the  support  of  his  or- 


TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON.  89 

phan-house  in  Georgia,  "  for  I  forgot,"  he  says,  "  that 
Professor  Francke  built  in  Glaucha,  in  a  populous 
country,  and  that  I  was  building  at  the  very  tail  of 
the  world."  In  March,  1753,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Charles 
Wesley,  "  On  Tuesday  morning  the  first  brick  of  our 
new  Tabernacle  was  laid  with  awful  solemnity.  I 
preached  from  Exodus  20  : 24,  '  In  all  places  where  I 
record  my  name,  I  will  come  unto  thee,  and  I  will 
bless  thee.'  The  wall  is  now  about  a  yard  high.  The 
building  is  to  be  eighty  feet  square.  It  is  on  the  old 
spot.  We  have  bought  the  house,  and  if  we  finish 
what  we  have  begun,  shall  be  rent  free  for  forty-six 
years."  In  June  the  dedicatory  services  took  place, 
when  the  Tabernacle,  though  capable,  with  its  capa- 
cious galleries,  of  holding  four  thousand  people,  was 
crowded  almost  to  suffocation.  Often  have  we  seen 
this  vast  building  crowded  with  worshippers,  with 
delight  have  we  occupied  its  pulpit,  and  with  devout 
gratitude  do  we  record,  that  never  for  a  moment  has 
the  frown  of  heaven  rested  upon  it.  Thousands  will 
ever  bless  God  for  its  erection. 

Not  unfrequently  has  the  question  been  discussed, 
to  what  denomination  of  Christians  does  the  Taberna- 
cle really  belong  ?  In  answer  to  this  question,  we  give 
a  legal  document  which  may  also  show  what  is  done 
in  reference  to  houses  of  worship  in  England,  under 
the  laws  for  the  maintenance  of  religious  toleration. 

"  These  are  to  certifie  whom  it  may  Concern,  that 
a  Certificate  bearing  date  the  Eighteenth  Day  of  June, 
in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hun- 
dred and  Sixty-four,  under  the  Hands  of  Starkey 
Myddleton  Minister,  Robert  Keen,  Thomas  Cox, 


90  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Samuel  Grace,  Eobert  Hodgson,  James  Smith,  Thomas 
Robinson,  Benjamin  Coles,  Thomas  Brooks,  and  Samuel 
Lockhart,  for  appropriating  and  setting  apart  a  Cer- 
tain Building  for  that  purpose  erected,  situate  near 
the  Barking  Dogs  in  the  Parish  of  Saint  Luke  in  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  and  intended  for  the  meeting 
place  of  a  certain  Congregation  of  Protestant  Dis- 
senters from  the  Church  of  England,  calling  them- 
selves Independents,  was  Registered  in  the  Registry 
of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of 
Saint  Paul,  London,  This  Twenty-first  Day  of  June  in 
the  year  of  Our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred 
and  Sixty-four. 

"THOMAS  COLLINS,  Deputy  Registrar." 

While  the  new  Tabernacle  was  in  the  course  of 
erection,  Whitefield  visited  Norwich,  where  his  minis- 
try was  largely  attended,  and  notwithstanding  much 
opposition,  was  followed  with  considerable  success. 
Writing  to  his  friend  Keen,  he  says,  "  How  does  God 
delight  to  exceed  even  the  hopes,  and  to  disappoint  the 
fears  of  his  weak,  though  honest-hearted  people.  In 
spite  of  all  opposition,  he  hath  caused  us  to  triumph 
even  in  Norwich.  Thousands  attend  twice  every  day, 
and  hear  with  the  greatest  eagerness.  I  hope  it  will 
appear  yet  more  and  more  that  God  hath  much  peo- 
ple here."  Compelled  by  alarming  illness,  the  result 
of  his  too  much  preaching,  he  suddenly  returned  to 
London,  from  whence  he  thus  wrote  to  one  of  the  con- 
verts at  Norwich :  "  I  shall  little  regard  the  weakness 
and  indisposition  of  my  body,  if  I  can  but  have  the 
pleasure  of  hearing,  if  not  before,  yet  at  the  great 
day,  that  good  was  done  to  one  precious  soul  at  Nor- 


TABERNACLE  IN  LONDON.  91 

wich.  Blessed  be  God  for  the  seed  sown  there.  I 
doubt  not  but  it  will  be  watered  with  the  dew  of  his 
heavenly  blessing,  and  bring  forth  a  divine  increase." 

Truly  the  gospel  did  triumph,  not  only  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Tabernacle  in  thdt  city,  but  in  preparing 
sinners  to  be  pillars  in  the  temple  of  God,  and  to  win 
others  to  his  service. 

Among  other  converts  won  at  Norwich,  was  the 
afterwards  popular  and  useful  minister  of  Christ,  the 
Rev.  Robert  Robinson,  of  Cambridge,  England.  When 
a  young  man,  about  eighteen,  he  resided  in  that  city, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  barber.  When 
he  was  walking  one  morning  with  several  companions 
who  had  agreed  that  day  to  take  their  pleasure,  the 
first  object  which  attracted  their  attention  was  an  old 
woman  who  pretended  to  tell  fortunes.  They  imme- 
diately employed  her  to  tell  theirs,  and  that  they 
might  qualify  her  for  the  undertaking,  first  made  her 
thoroughly  intoxicated.  Robinson  was  informed, 
among  other  things,  that  he  would  live  to  a  very  old 
age,  and  see  his  children,  grandchildren,  and  great- 
grandchildren growing  up  around  him.  Though  he 
had  assisted  in  intoxicating  the  old  woman,  he  had 
credulity  enough  to  be  struck  with  those  parts  of  the 
prediction  which  related  to  himself.  "  And  so,"  said 
he  when  alone,  "  I  am  to  see  children,  grandchildren, 
and  great-grandchildren.  At  that  age  I  must  be  a 
burden  to  the  young  people.  What  shall  I  do  ?  There 
is  no  way  for  an  old  man  to  render  himself  more 
agreeable  to  youth,  than  by  sitting  and  telling  them 
pleasant  and  profitable  stories.  I  will  then,"  thought 
he,  "  during  my  youth,  endeavor  to  store  my  mind 


92  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

with  all  kinds  of  knowledge.  I  will  see  and  hear, 
and  note  down  every  thing  that  is  rare  and  wonder- 
ful, that  I  may  sit,  when  incapable  of  other  employ- 
ments, and  entertain  my  descendants.  Thus  shall  my 
company  be  rendered  pleasant,  and  I  shall  be  respect- 
ed, rather  than  neglected,  in  old.  age.  Let  me  see, 
what  can  I  acquire  first?  Oh,  here  is  the  famous 
Methodist  preacher,  Whitefield  ;  he  is  to  preach  here, 
they  say,  to-night ;  I  will  go  and  hear  him." 

From  these  strange  motives,  as  he  told  the  cele- 
brated Rev.  Andrew  Fuller,  he  went  to  hear  White- 
field  preach.  That  evening  his  text  was,  "  But  when 
he  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  come  to 
his  baptism,  he  said  unto  them,  0  generation  of  vipers, 
who  hath  warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ?" 
Matt.  3:7.  "Mr.  Whitefield,"  said  Robinson,  "de- 
scribed the  Sadducees'  character  ;  this  did  not  touch 
me ;  I  thought  myself  as  good  a  Christian  as  any  man 
in  England.  From  this  he  went  to  that  of  the  Phari- 
sees. He  described  their  exterior  decency,  but  ob- 
served, that  the  poison  of  the  viper  rankled  in  their 
hearts.  This  rather  shook  me.  At  length,  in  the 
course  of  his  sermon,  he  abruptly  broke  off;  paused 
for  a  few  moments;  then  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears, 
lifted  up  his  hands  and  eyes,  and  exclaimed,  '  Oh,  my 
hearers,  the  wrath's  to  come!  the  wrath's  to  come!' 
These  words  sunk  into  my  heart  like  lead  in  the 
water ;  I  wept,  and  when  the  sermon  was  ended  re- 
tired alone.  For  days  and  weeks  I  could  think  of 
little  else.  Those  awful  words  would  follow  me  wher- 
ever I  went :  '  The  wrath 's  to  come !  The  wrath  ?s  to 
come !' " 


TOTTENHAM  COURT-ROAD  CHAPEL.          93 

Scarcely  had  Whitefield  completed  the  Tabernacle 
in  London,  before  he  was  earnestly  solicited  to  hold 
public  services  at  the  west  end  of  the  city,  and  Long- 
Acre  chapel,  then  under  the  charge  of  a  dissenter,  was 
offered  for  his  use.  An  unruly  rabble  endeavored  to 
drive  the  preacher  from  his  post ;  but  a  running  fire 
of  brickbats,  broken  glass,  bells,  drums,  and  clappers, 
neither  annoyed  nor  frightened  the  intrepid  evange- 
list ;  nor  did  an  interference  on  the  part  of  the  hierar- 
chy, which  followed  soon  after,  prohibiting  his  preach- 
ing in  an  incorporated  chapel.  "  I  hope  you  will  not 
look  on  it  as  contumacy,"  said  Whitefield  to  the  bish- 
op, "  if  I  persist  in  prosecuting  my  design  until  I  am 
more  particularly  apprized  wherein  I  have  erred.  I 
trust  the  irregularity  I  am  charged  with  will  appear 
justifiable  to  every  lover  of  English  liberty,  and  what 
is  all  to  me,  be  approved  at  the  awful  and  impartial 
tribunal  of  the  great  Bishop  and  Shepherd  of  souls." 
Writing  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  he  says,  "  My  greatest 
distress  is  so  to  act  as  to  avoid  rashness  on  the  one 
hand  and  timidity  on  the  other ;"  and  this  shows,  what 
indeed  was  proved  in  his  whole  life,  an  entire  absence 
of  that  malignant  element  of  fanaticism  which  courts 
opposition  and  revels  in  it. 

"  Determined,"  as  Mrs.  Knight  says,  in  her  beauti- 
ful volume,  " Lady  Huntingdon  and  her  Friends"  " not 
to  be  beaten  from  his  ground,  yet  hoping  to  escape 
some  of  its  annoyances,  Whitefield  resolved  to  build 
a  chapel  of  his  own.  Hence  arose  Tottenham  Court- 
road  chapel,  which  went  by  the  name  of '  Whitefield's 
soul-trap.'"  Admirably  does  he  3ay,  "I  pray  the 
Friend  of  sinners  to  make  it  a  soul-trap  indeed  to 


94  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

many  wandering  creatures.  My  constant  work  is 
preaching  fifteen  times  a  week.  Conviction  and  con- 
version go  on  here,  for  God  hath  met  us  in  our  new 
building."  It  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  No- 
vember, 1756.  Though  not  equal  in  its  triumphs  to 
the  Tabernacle,  the  congregation  has  always  been 
large,  and  its  preachers — always  the  same  as  those 
at  the  Tabernacle — have  not  labored  in  vain.  In 
1829,  '30,  improvements  were  made  in  the  building, 
which  still,  however,  contains  Whitefield's  pulpit.  A 
vast  area  in  the  centre  was  originally  filled  with  plain 
seats,  where  the  masses  of  the  people  were  accommo- 
dated free  of  all  pew  rent. 

Let  not  infidels  tell  us,  that  the  religion  of  these 
men  and  of  those  times  was  mere  enthusiasm,  and  that 
the  temporal  interests  of  men  were  neglected  in  pro- 
fessions of  high  regard  for  those  of  a  spiritual  charac- 
ter. Let  such  men  know  that  within  two  years  of  the 
opening  of  Tottenham  Court-road  chapel,  not  only 
did  the  congregation  build  a  parsonage-house  for  their 
minister,  but  twelve  almshouses  for  as  many  poor  wid- 
ows. The  Tabernacle  has  always  acted  with  equal 
generosity.  In  proportion  to  their  means,  few  con- 
gregations in  the  world  have  exceeded  these  two  in 
works  of  benevolence. 

Assuredly  what  has  sometimes  been  charged  on 
evangelical  ministers — ^that  they  attend  to  the  spirit- 
ual interests  of  mankind,  but  neglect  their  temporal 
sufferings — would  never  apply  to  Mr.  Whitefield.  No 
sooner  had  he  completed  these  large  edifices,  where 
vast  congregations  assembled,  than  he  was  heard  fre- 
quently to  plead  for  those  laboring  under  oppression 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  THE  BUILDINGS.         95 

or  distress  in  foreign  lands.  He  preached  in  both 
these  houses  in  behalf  of  the  poor  French  Protestants 
in  Prussia,  who  had  suffered  much  from  the  cruelty 
of  the  Russians,  when  great  numbers  of  the  nobility, 
and  some  of  the  highest  officers  of  the  crown  went  to 
hear  him.  The  collections  for  this  object  amounted 
to  upwards  of  fifteen  hundred  pounds,  or  seven  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars;  and  for  this  disinterested 
act  of  benevolence  Whitefield  received  the  thanks  of 
his  Prussian  Majesty. 

Again,  on  the  day  recommended  by  the  govern- 
ment for  a  general  fast,  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  both 
at  the  Tabernacle  and  at  Tottenham  Court-road  chap- 
el, after  which  he  collected  five  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds  for  the  relief  of  the  German  Protestants,  and 
the  sufferers  by  fire  at  Boston,  for  which  he  received 
the  unanimous  thanks  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  town. 
Lady  Huntingdon  wrote  to  one  of  her  friends,  "It 
would  delight  you  to  have  seen  what  crowds  of  the 
mighty  and  noble  flocked  to  hear  him.  The  collection 
was  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  German  Protestants.  I 
invited  several  to  come  who  probably  would  not  at- 
tend his  ministry  on  other  occasions."  Few  places  at 
that  time  could  boast  of  such  a  constellation  of  trans- 
cendent genius  and  senatorial  talent,  such  a  brilliant 
assemblage  of  wisdom,  magnanimity,  and  oratorical 
powers,  as  were  then  found  within  these  houses  of  the 
living  God. 

One  word  may  be  allowed  here  on  the  plain  archi- 
tecture of  these  buildings.  "  We  are,"  says  the  excel- 
lent Mr.  James,  •"  in  many  things  improved,  and  I 
rejoice  in  the  improvement ;  but  the  occasion  of  my 


96  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

joy  is  at  the  same  time  the  occasion  of  my  fear  and 
my  jealousy  also.  Our  ecclesiastical  architecture  is 
just  now  a  special  object  of  our  attention.  White- 
field,  it  may  be  confessed,  paid  too  little  attention  to 
this;  we,  perhaps,  are  paying  too  much.  His  only 
solicitude  was  to  save  souls,  careless  altogether  of  the 
tastefulness  of  the  building  within  which  that  work, 
which  has  no  relation  to  styles  of  architecture,  was 
carried  on.  His  only  calculation  in  the  construction 
of  a  building  was,  how  many  immortal  souls  could  be 
crowded  within  four  square  walls,  and  under  a  roof, 
to  hear  'the  joyful  sound.'  Hence  the  somewhat  un- 
couth buildings  which  he  erected.  Ah,  but  when  I 
consider  that  every  stone  in  those  unsightly  walls  has 
echoed  to  the  sound  of  salvation  and  the  hymns  of 
redeemed  spirits,  and  that  almost  every  spot  on  the 
floor  has  been  moistened  by  the  tears  of  penitence, 
then,  in  a  feeling  of  sanctity  I  seem  to  lose  the  sense 
of  deformity,  and  there  comes  over  me  an  awe  and 
solemnity  which  no  modern  gothic  structure  with  its 
lofty  arches  and  painted  windows  can  inspire.  But 
still,  as  religion  is  not  only  the  most  holy,  but  the 
most  beautiful  thing  in  God's  universe,  there  is  no 
reason  why  taste  and  devotion  should  not  be  united. 
It  is  the  ministry  of  the  word,  however,  upon  which 
the  church  must  be  chiefly  intent." 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  97 


CHAPTER  IV. 

WHITEFIELD'S  SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA. 
1739, 1740. 

As  in  the  preceding  chapter,  for  the  sake  of  con- 
necting the  history  of  Whiteneld's  church  edifices  in 
London,  we  have  anticipated  the  order  of  events,  we 
go  back  to  the  period  shortly  before  his  second  voyage 
to  America. 

About  the  time  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  a 
circumstance  occurred  of  deep  interest,  which  White- 
field  relates  at  considerable  length.  Joseph  Periam, 
a  young  man  in  London,  whb  had  read  his  sermon  on 
"  regeneration,"  became  deeply  impressed  by  it ;  he 
sold  all  that  he  possessed,  and  prayed  so  loud  and 
fasted  so  long,  that  his  family  supposed  him  deranged, 
and  sent  him  to  the  Bedlam  madhouse,  where  he  was 
treated  as  "  methodistically  mad,"  and  as  "  one  of 
Whitefield's  gang."  The  keepers  threw  him  down, 
and  forced  a  key  into  his  mouth,  while  they  drenched 
him  with  medicine.  He  was  then  placed  in  a  cold 
room  without  windows,  and  with  a  damp  cellar  under 
it.  Periam,  however,  found  some  means  of  conveying 
a  letter  to  Whitefield,  requesting  both  advice  and  a 
visit.  These  were  promptly  given.  The  preacher 
soon  discovered  that  Periam  was  not  mad ;  and  tak- 
ing a  Mr.  Seward  and  some  other  friends  with  him, 
he  went  before  the  committee  of  the  hospital  to  ex- 
plain the  case.  It  must  have  been  somewhat  of  a 
5 


98  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ludicrous  scene.  Seward  so  astounded  the  committee 
by  quoting  Scripture,  that  they  pronounced  him  to  be 
as  mad  as  Periam.  The  doctors  frankly  told  the  dep- 
utation, that  in  their  opinion,  Whitefield  and  his  fol- 
lowers were  "  really  beside  themselves."  It  was  how- 
ever agreed,  that  if  "Whitefield  would  take  Periam  out 
to  Georgia,  his  release  would  be  granted.  Thus  the 
conference  ended,  and  the  young  man  went  out  as  a 
schoolmaster  at  the  Orphan-house.  There  he  was  ex- 
emplary and  useful,  and  when  he  died  two  of  his  sons 
were  received  into  the  institution. 

Mr.  Whitefield  so  successfully  pleaded  the  cause 
of  his  American  orphans,  that  during  his  journeys  of 
twelve  months  he  collected  upwards  of  one  thousand 
pounds  towards  the  erection  of  his  intended  house  for 
their  accommodation.  With  this  sum  in  his  posses- 
sion, he  set  sail  for  America  the  second  time,  August 
14/1739,  accompanied  by  his  friend  Mr.  Seward,  eight 
men,  one  boy,  and  two  children. 

While  all  this  was  going  on,  the  inhabitants  of 
Georgia  were  making  every  possible  preparation  for 
his  reception.  The  records  of  the  trustees  say,  May 
16,  1739,  "Read  a  commission  to  the  Rev.  George 
Whitefield  to  perform  all  religious  and  ecclesiastical 
offices  at  Savannah,  in  Georgia."  Again :  "June  2, 
1739.  Sealed  a  grant  of  five  hundred  acres  of  land 
to  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  in  trust  for  the  use  of 
the  house  to  be  erected  and  maintained  for  the  receiv- 
ing such  children  as  now  are,  and  shall  hereafter  be 
left  orphans  in  the  colony  of  Georgia,  in  pursuance  of 
the  direction  of  the  Common  Council  held  the  30th  of 
last  month." 


IN  PHILADELPHIA.  99 

Not  only  was  Whitefield  anxious  to  establish  the 
orphan-house  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  colony  of 
Georgia,  but  having  been  ordained  priest,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  instructing  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Sa- 
vannah, he  was  desirous  of  making  full  proof  of  his 
ministry  among  them.  After  a  passage  of  nine  weeks 
he  landed  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  immediately  in- 
vited to  preach  in  the  churches ;  to  which  people  of 
all  denominations  thronged  as  in  England.  He  was 
especially  pleased  to  find  that  they  preferred  sermons 
when  "  not  delivered  within  the  church  walls."  And 
it  was  well  they  did,  for  his  fame  had  arrived  in  the 
city  before  him,  and  crowds  were  collected  to  hear 
him  which  no  church  could  contain. 

A  letter  written  on  this  voyage  to  America  has 
recently  come  to  light,  which  beautifully  illustrates 
the  spirit  by  which  Whitefield  was  now  animated.  It 
was  addressed  to  the  Rev.  John  Cumming  of  Andover, 
Hampshire,  England. 

"Wrote  at  Sea,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  Nov.  9, 1739. 

"  REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR — You  see  by  my  writing 
this  how  willing  I  am  to  cultivate  a  correspondence 
with  you.  I  wish  Christians  in  general,  and  ministers 
of  Christ  in  particular,  were  better  acquainted.  The 
cause  of  Christ  thereby  must  be  necessarily  promoted. 
But  bigotry  and  sectarian  zeal  have  been  the  bane  of 
our  holy  religion.  Though  we  have  one  Lord,  one 
faith,  and  one  baptism,  yet  if  we  do  not  all  worship 
God  in  one  particular  way,  we  behave  to  each  other 
like  Jews  and  Samaritans.  Dear  sir,  I  hope  that  nei- 
ther of  us  have  so  learned  Christ.  Blessed  be  God 


100  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

for  his  free  grace  in  Christ'.  The  partition  wall  has  for 
some  time  been  broken  down  out  of  my  heart,  and  I 
can  truly  say,  whosoever  loves  the  Lord  Jesus,  '  the 
same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother.7  For  this 
reason,  dear  sir,  I  love  you.  For  this  reason,  though 
I  decrease,  yet  I  heartily  wish  you  may  increase,  even 
with  all  the  increase  of  God.  I  am  persuaded  you 
are  like-minded.  I  believe  my  friends  have  prayed 
for  me.  The  Lord  hath  dealt  most  lovingly  with  me 
his  servant.  He  has  chastened  and  corrected,  but  hath 
not  given  me  over  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  A 
future  journal  will  acquaint  you  with  particulars. 
What  I  have  sent  over  to  be  published  will  afford  you 
abundant  matter  for  thanksgiving  in  behalf  of, 
"  Dear  sir,  your  affectionate  friend, 

"  Brother,  and  servant, 

«G.  WHITEFIELD." 

The  old  court-house  of  Philadelphia,  then  stand- 
ing on  Second  and  Market  streets,  had  a  balcony, 
which  several  years  before  the  visit  of  Whitefield  had 
been  often  used  instead  of  a  pulpit.  In  1736,  we  find 
that  Mr.  Abel  Noble  had  preached  "  from  the  court- 
house steps,"  on  a  Monday,  to  a  large  congregation 
standing  in  Market-street,  on  the  subject  of  keeping 
the  Sabbath.  In  the  same  year,  Michael  Welfare  ap- 
peared there  to  give  his  "  warning  voice,"  and  now,  in 
1739,  it  became  one  of  the  favorite  preaching  stands 
of  the  great  evangelist.  Here  he  stood,  surrounded 
by  many  thousands,  even  down  to  the  side  of  the  Del- 
aware river,  not  a  few  bathed  in  tears,  and  inquiring 
after  the  way  of  salvation. 


IN  PHILADELPHIA.  101 

Dr.  Franklin  says,  "  The  multitudes  of  all  sects 
and  denominations  that  attended  his  sermons  were 
enormous ;  and  it  was  a  matter  of  speculation  with 
me  to  observe  the  influence  of  his  oratory  on  his  hear- 
ers, and  how  much  they  admired  and  respected  him, 
notwithstanding  his  common  abuse  of  them,  by  assur- 
ing them  that  they  were,  naturally,  half  beasts  and 
half  devils.  It  was  wonderful  to  see  the  change  soon 
made  in  the  manners  of  our  inhabitants.  From  being 
thoughtless  and  indifferent  about  religion,  it  seemed 
as  if  all  the  world  was  growing  religious ;  so  that  one 
could  not  walk  through  the  town  in  an  evening  with- 
out hearing  psalms  sung  in  different  families  in  every 
street." 

A  constant  attendant  on  his  ministry  at  this  time 
says,  "  His  hearers  were  never  weary  ;  every  eye  was 
fixed  on  his  expressive  countenance  ;  every  ear  was 
charmed  with  his  melodious  voice ;  every  heart  cap- 
tivated with  the  beauty  and  propriety  of  his  address. 
He  was  no  contracted  bigot ;  all  denominations  par- 
took of  his  religious  charity.  Anxious  in  America 
for  our  civil  privileges,  he  was  alike  solicitous  for  the 
spiritual  and  temporal  happiness  of  mankind.  No 
man  since  the  apostolic  age  preached  oftener  or  with 
better  success.  He  was,  moreover,  a  polite  gentle- 
man, a  faithful  friend,  an  engaging  companion,  and  a 
sincere  Christian.  His  sermons  in  the  open  air  lasted 
about  one  and  a  half  hours." 

Watson,  in  his  "Annals  of  Philadelphia,"  speaking 
of  Whitefield's  first  visit  to  that  city,  tells  us  that  he 
preached  to  a  crowd  of  fifteen  thousand  persons  on 
Society  hill,  and  adds,  "  About  the  same  time  he  so 


102  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

far  succeeded  to  repress  the  usual  public  amusements, 
that  the  dancing-school  was  discontinued,  and  the 
ball  and  concert  rooms  were  shut  up,  as  inconsistent 
with  the  requisitions  of  the  gospel.  No  less  than 
fourteen  sermons  were  preached  on  Society  hill  in  the 
open  air  in  one  week,  during  the  session  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church ;  and  the  gazette  of  the  day,  in  no- 
ticing the  fact,  says,  '  The  change  to  religion  here  is 
altogether  surprising,  through  the  influence  of  White- 
field;  no  books  sell  but  religious,  and  such  is  the 
general  conversation.' " 

It  is  said,  that  though  some  gentlemen  broke  open 
the  assembly-rooms,  no  company  could  be  induced  to 
visit  them.  Such  was  the  popularity  of  Whitefield, 
that  when  he  left  the  city,  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  gentlemen  accompanied  him  as  far  as  Chester, 
fifteen  miles  from  Philadelphia,  where  he  preached  to 
about  seven  thousand  people.  At  White  Clay  creek, 
he  preached  to  eight  thousand  people,  three  thousand 
of  whom,  it  is  said,  were  on  horseback.  Many  com- 
plimentary effusions  to  him  appeared  in  the  newspa- 
pers, and  James  Pemberton,  a  very  distinguished 
Friend,  said  of  him,  "  In  his  conversation  he  is  very 
agreeable,  and  has  not  much  of  the  priest ;  he  frequents 
no  set  company." 

An  old  gentleman  assured  Watson,  the  annalist, 
that  on  one  occasion  the  words,  "And  he  taught  them, 
saying,"  as  pronounced  by  Whitefield  on  Society  hill, 
were  heard  at  Gloucester  point,  a  distance  by  water 
of  two  miles. 

Abundant  reasons  might  be  assigned  for  our  in- 
troducing in  this  place  an  account  of  the  institution 


THE  LOG  COLLEGE.  103 

called  "  the  Log  college."  It  has  proved  the  parent 
of  every  collegiate  and  theological  institution  con- 
nected with  the  large  and  wealthy  body  of  Presbyte- 
rians in  this  country  ;  it  was  originated  by  a  family 
which  became  especially  endeared  to  Mr.  Whitefield ; 
and  from  his  journal,  recording  his  visit  to  it,  we 
have,  in  some  respects  at  least,  the  clearest  state- 
ment of  facts  concerning  it  which  history  has  pre- 
served. 

As  we  have  already  shown,  about  one  hundred  and 
forty  years  ago,  the  state  of  religion,  both  in  Europe 
and  America,  was  very  low.  Nor  was  the  condition  of 
the  Presbyterian  body  an  exception.  As  the  late  Dr. 
Alexander,  in  his  interesting  volume,  called  "  The  Log 
College,"  says,  "  The  ministers  composing  the  Pres- 
byterian church  in  this  country  were  sound  in  the 
faith,  and  strongly  attached  to  the  Westminster  con- 
fession of  faith  and  catechisms,  as  were  also  their  peo- 
ple ;  and  there  were  no  diversities  or  contentions 
among  them  respecting  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel ; 
but  as  to  the  vital  power  of  godliness,  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  it  was  little  known  or  spoken  of. 
Revivals  of  religion  were  nowhere  heard  of,  and  an 
orthodox  creed,  and  a  decent  external  conduct  were 
the  only  points  on  which  inquiry  was  made,  when  per- 
sons were  admitted  to  the  communion  of  the  church. 
Indeed,  it  was  very  much  a  matter  of  course,  for  all 
who  had  been  baptized  in  infancy,  to  be  received  into 
communion  at  the  proper  age,  without  exhibiting  or 
possessing  any  satisfactory  evidence  of  a  change  of 
heart  by  the  supernatural  operations  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  And  the  habit  of  their  preachers  was  to  ad- 


104  GEORGE  WHITEF1ELD. 

dress  their  people  as  though  they  were  all  pious,  and 
only  needed  instruction  and  confirmation." 

Such  was  the  lamentable  state  of  things  when  the 
Rev.  William  Tennent,  sen.,  an  Irish  clergyman  past 
the  middle  stage  of  life  arrived  in  this  country,  about 
the  year  1716.  After  laboring  for  a  season  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  till  about  1721,  he  received  an 
invitation  to  settle  at  Bensalem,  where  he  ministered 
to  the  small  Presbyterian  congregation  till  1726,  when 
he  was  called  to  Neshaminy,  in  the  same  county,  where 
he  labored  for  the  rest  of  his  life,  living  till  1746, 
when  he  died,  aged  seventy-three.  In  Neshaminy  the 
good  man  felt  that  he  was  called  not  only  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  a  preacher  and  pastor,  but  to  look  over 
the  whole  country,  and  to  devise  means  for  the  exten- 
sion of  the  cause  of  Christ.  He  had  himself  four 
sons,  the  subjects  of  divine  grace,  and  blessed  with 
talents  for  usefulness  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer, 
and  he  felt  that  when  other  young  men  rose  up  in  the 
church,  favored  with  ministerial  talents,  they  also 
would  need  mental  cultivation.  Hence  his  determi- 
nation to  erect  the  humble  building  of  which  we  now 
write,  which  was  the  first  Presbyterian  literary  and 
theological  institution  in  this  country,  the  immediate 
parent  of  the  college  at  Princeton,  and  from  which, 
indeed,  all  similar  institutions  emanated. 

The  site  of  the  Log  college  is  about  a  mile  from 
Neshaminy  creek,  where  the  Presbyterian  church  has 
long  stood.  The  ground  near  and  around  it  lies  hand- 
somely to  the  eye,  and  the  more  distant  prospect  is 
very  beautiful  j  for  while  there  is  a  considerable  ex- 
tent of  fertile,  well-cultivated  land,  nearly  level,  the 


THE  LOG  COLLEGE.  105 

view  is  bounded  to  the  north  and  west  by  a  range  of 
hills,  which  have  a  very  pleasing  appearance.  Mr. 
Whitefield  has  left  in  his  "  Journal,"  the  only  descrip- 
tion we  have  of  the  building.  "  The  place,"  says  he, 
"  wherein  the  young  men  study  now,  is  in  contempt 
called  '  the  college.'.  It  is  a  log-house  about  twenty 
feet  long,  and  nearly  as  many  broad  ;  and  to  me  it 
seemed  to  resemble  the  school  of  the  old  prophets, 
for  their  habitations  were  mean.  That  they  sought 
not  great  things  for  themselves  is  plain  from  these 
passages  of  Scripture,  wherein  we  are  told  that  each 
of  them  took  a  beam  to  build  them  a  house  ;  and 
that  at  the  feast  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets,  one  of 
them  put  on  the  pot,  while  the  others  went  to  fetch 
some  herbs  out  of  the  field.  All  that  we  can  say  of 
most  of  our  universities  is,  they  are  glorious  without. 
From  this  despised  place,  seven  or  eight  worthy  minis- 
ters of  Jesus  have  lately  been  sent  forth ;  more  are 
almost  ready  to  be  sent,  and  the  foundation  is  now 
laying  for  the  instruction  of  many  others." 

Of  the  senior  Tennent,  the  founder  of  the  Log  col- 
lege, little  more  is  known  than  what  we  have  already 
given.  He  was  a  member  of  the  synod  of  Philadel- 
phia, who  were  satisfied  with  his  reasons  for  leaving 
the  Established  church  of  Ireland,  and  for  several 
years  this  body  cordially  cooperated  with  him  in  his 
zealous  labors.  Their  unity  of  feeling,  however,  seems 
to  have  declined.  This  we  learn  from  a  passage  in 
Whitefield's  "  Journal,"  which  also  gives  us  a  beauti- 
ful view  of  the  good  old  man.  "  At  my  return  home, 
was  much  comforted  by  the  coming  of  one  Mr.  Ten- 
nent, an  old  gray-headed  disciple  and  soldier  of  Jesus 


106    .  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Christ.  He  keeps  an  academy  about  twenty  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  and  has  been  blest  with  four  gra- 
cious sons,  three  of  which  have  been,  and  still  con- 
tinue to  be  eminently  useful  in  the  church  of  Christ. 
He  brought  three  pious  souls  along  with  him,  and 
rejoiced  irie  by  letting  me  know,  how  they  had  been 
evil  spoken  of  for  their  Master's  sake.  He  is  a  great 
friend  of  Mr.  Erskine,  of  Scotland ;  and  as  far  as  I 
can  learn,  both  he  and  his  sons  are  secretly  despised 
by  the  generality  of  the  synod,  as  Mr.  Erskine  and 
his  friends  are  hated  by  the  judicatories  of  Edinburgh, 
and  as  the  Methodist  preachers,  as  they  are  called, 
are  by  their  brethren  in  England." 

Not  long  after  this,  the  Log  college  was  visited  by 
Whitefield,  who  wrote  the  account  we  have  already 
given.  He  also  says,  under  the  date  of  Nov.  29, 1739, 
"  Set  out  for  Neshaminy,  twenty  miles  distant  from 
Trent  Town,  where  old  Mr.  Tennent  lives,  and  keeps 
an  academy,  and  where  I  was  to  preach  to-day,  accord- 
ing to  appointment.  About  twelve  o'clock,  we  came 
thither,  and  found  about  three  thousand  people  gath- 
ered together  in  the  meeting-house  yard.  Mr.  Will- 
iam Tennent,  junior,  an  eminent  servant  of  Jesus 
Christ,  because  we  stayed  beyond  the  time  appointed, 
was  preaching  to  them.  When  I  came  up,  he  soon 
stopped ;  sung  a  psalm,  and  then  I  began  to  speak  as  the 
Lord  gave  me  utterance.  At  first,  the  people  seemed 
unaffected,  but  in  the  midst  of  my  discourse,  the  power 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  came  upon  me,  and  I  felt  such  a 
struggling  within  myself  for  the  people  as  I  scarce 
ever  felt  before.  The  hearers  began  to  be  melted 
down  immediately,  and  to  cry  much ;  and  we  had 


IN  PHILADELPHIA.  107 

good  reason  to  hope  the  Lord  intended  good  for  many. 
After  I  had  finished,  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  gave  a  word 
of  exhortation,  to  confirm  what  had  been  delivered. 
At  the  end  of  his  discourse,  we  sung  a  psalm,  and  dis- 
missed the  people  with  a  blessing  ;  0  that  the  people 
may  say  Amen  to  it.  After  our  exercises  were  over, 
we  went  to  old  Mr.  Tennent's,  who  entertained  us 
like  one  of  the  ancient  patriarchs.  His  wife,  ±o  me 
seemed  like  Elizabeth,  and  he  like  Zachary  ;  both,  as 
far  as  I  can  learn,  walk  in  the  commandments  and 
ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless.  Though  God  was 
pleased  to  humble  my  soul,  so  that  I  was  obliged 
to  retire  for  a  while,  yet  we  had  sweet  communion 
with  each  other,  and  spent  the  evening  in  concerting 
what  measures  had  best  be  taken  for  promoting 
our  dear  Lord's  kingdom.  It  happened  very  provi- 
dentially that  Mr.  Tennent  and  his  brethren  are  ap- 
pointed to  be  a  presbytery  by  the  synod,  so  that 
they  intend  bringing  up  gracious  youths,  and  send- 
ing them  out  from  time  to  time  into  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard." 

We  may  be  permitted  to  add  here,  that  among  the 
ministers  sent  out  by  Mr.  Tennent,  from  the  Log  col- 
lege, to  preach  the  gospel,  were  his  four  sons,  Gilbert, 
William,  John,  and  Charles,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Samuel 
Blair,  John  Blair,  Charles  Beatty,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
J.  Finley,  President  of  Princeton  College  ;  of  some  of 
these  excellent  men  the  reader  will  hear  again  in  the 
course  of  this  volume. 

In  reference  to  his  first  visit  to  Philadelphia, 
Whitefield  thus  writes :  "  I  have  scarcely  preached 
among  them,  but  I  have  seen  a  stirring  among  the 


108  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

dry  bones.  Go  where  I  will,  I  find  people  with  great 
gladness  receive  me  into  their  houses.  Sometimes  I 
think  I  am  speaking  to  stocks  and  stones  ;  but  before 
I  have  done,  the  power  of  the  Lord  comes  over  them, 
and  I  find  I  have  been  ploughing  up  some  fallow 
ground,  in  a  place  where  there  has  been  a  great  fam- 
ine of  the  word  of  God.  But  as  God's  word  increases, 
so  will  the  rage  and  opposition  of  the  devil.  Scoffers 
seem  to  be  at  a  stand  what  to  say.  They  mutter  in 
coffee-houses,  give  a  curse,  drink  a  barrel  of  punch, 
and  then  cry  out  against  me  for  not  preaching  more 
morality.  Poor  men,  if  God  judges  them,  as  he  cer- 
tainly will  do,"  by  their  morality,  out  of  their  own 
mouths  will  he  condemn  them.  Their  morality,  falsely 
so  called,  will  prove  their  damnation.  God  has  en- 
larged my  heart  to  pray.  Tears  trickle  down  my 
face,  and  I  am  in  great  agony ;  but  the  Lord  is  pleased 
to  set  his  seal  to  what  he  enables  me  to  deliver. 
Amid  cries  and  groans  in  the  congregation,  God  gives 
me  much  freedom  of  speech.  Many  people  and  many 
ministers  weep.  My  own  soul  is  much  carried  out. 
I  preached  to  a  vast  assembly  of  sinners ;  nearly 
twelve  thousand  were  collected ;  and  I  had  not  spoken 
long,  before  I  perceived  numbers  melting  ;  as  I  pro- 
ceeded, the  power  increased,  and  thousands  cried  out ; 
never  before  did  I  see  so  glorious  a  sight.  Oh,  what 
strong  crying  and  tears  were  poured  forth  after  the 
dear  Lord  Jesus !  Some  fainted ;  and  when  they  had 
gotten  a  little  strength,  they  would  hear  and  faint 
again.  Never  was  my  soul  filled  with  greater  power. 
Oh,  what  thoughts  and  words  did  God  put  into  my 
heart.  As  great,  if  not  greater  commotion  was  in 


IN  PHILADELPHIA.  109 

the  hearts  of  the  people.  Look  where  I  would,  most 
were  drowned  in  tears." 

An  aged  man  who  was  living  in  1806,  and  who 
well  remembered  the  scenes  he  witnessed,  bore  testi- 
mony that  after  this  visit  of  the  great  evangelist,  pub- 
lic worship  was  regularly  celebrated  in  Philadelphia 
twice  a  day  for  a  whole  year ;  and  that  on  the  Lord's 
day  it  was  celebrated  three,  and  frequently  four  times 
in  each  church.  He  said  there  were  not  less  than 
twenty-six  societies  regularly  held  for  prayer  and 
Christian  conference. 

Such  was  the  influence  of  Whitefield,  not  only  in 
Philadelphia,  but  throughout  the  colony  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, that  in  the  city  attention  to  commerce  was 
suspended,  and  in  the  country  the  cultivation  of  the 
land  for  the  time  being  was  abandoned,  that  people 
might  hear  him  proclaim  the  gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus. 

Among  other  very  striking  conversions  in  Phila- 
delphia at  this  period,  was  that  of  a  young  lady,  who 
had  for  several  years  made  a  public  profession  of 
Christianity,  but  who  now  became  fully  convinced 
that  "  she  was  totally  unacquainted  with  vital  piety." 
When  Mr.  Whitefield  began  his  labors  in  that  city, 
she  was  greatly  affected  by  his  preaching,  on  which 
she  constantly  attended,  and  often  afterwards  told 
her  friends,  that  after  the  first  sermon  she  heard 
him  preach,  she  was  ready  to  say  with  the  woman  of 
Samaria,  "  Come  see  a  man  who  told  me  all  things 
that  ever  I  did."  The  preacher,  she  said,  so  exactly 
described  all  the  secret  workings  of  her  heart,  her 
wishes,  and  her  actions,  that  she  really  believed  he 


110  GEORGE  WHITEFJELD. 

was  either  more  than  human,  or  else  that  he  was  su- 
pernaturally  assisted  to  know  her  heart.*  She  was 
not  then  aware  that  all  depraved  hearts  are  much 
alike,  and  that  he  who  in  lively  colors  can  paint  one, 
gives  a  description  which  will  be  recognized  by  many 
as  their  own.  This  young  lady  once  walked  twenty 
miles  to  hear  a  sermon  from  Whitefield ;  she  became 
a  most  eminent  Christian,  and  was  one  of  the  constit- 
uent members  of  the  church  organized  by  Mr.  Ten- 
nent.  She  married  Mr.  Hugh  Hodge,  who  was  also 
one  of  the  seals  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  ministry,  and  a 
deacon  of  the  church,  and  for  more  than  sixty  years 
she  eminently  "  adorned  the  gospel  of  God  in  all 
things." 

During  this  first  visit  of  Mr.  Whitefield  to  Phila- 
delphia, another  interesting  circumstance  occurred. 
Whitefield  preached  one  evening  standing  on  the 
steps  of  the  court-house,  in  Market-street,  which  be- 
came, as  we  have  said,  his  favorite  spot  during  that 
and  subsequent  visits.  A  youth  some  thirteen  years 
of  age  stood  near  him,  and  held  a  lantern  for  his  ac- 
commodation ;  but  becoming  deeply  absorbed  in  the 
sermon,  and  strongly  agitated,  the  lantern  fell  from 
his  hands,  and  was  dashed  in  pieces.  Those  near  the 
boy,  observing  the  cause  of  the  accident,  felt  specially 
interested,  and  for  a  few  moments  the  meeting  was 
discomposed  by  the  occurrence.  Some  fourteen  years 
afterwards,  Mr.  Whitefield,  on  his  fifth  visit  to  this 
country,  was  visiting  St.  George's,  in  Delaware.  He 
was  one  day  riding  out  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Rodg- 
ers,  then  settled  as  the  minister  at  St.  George's,  in 
the  closed  carriage  in  which  Whitefield  generally 


IN  NEW  YORK.  Ill 

rode.  Mr.  Rodgers  asked  him  whether  he  recollected 
the  occurrence  of  the  little  boy  who  was  so  affected 
with  his  preaching  as  to  let  his  lantern  fall.  Mr. 
Whitefield  replied,  "  0  yes,  I  remember  it  well ;  and 
have  often  thought  I  would  give  almost  any  thing  in 
my  power,  to  know  who  that  little  boy  was,  and  what 
had  become  of  him."  Mr.  Rodgers  replied  with  a 
smile,  "  I  am  that  little  boy."  Mr.  Whitefield,  with 
tears  of  joy,  started  from  his  seat,  took  him  in  his 
arms,  and  with  strong  emotion  remarked,  that  he  was 
the  fourteenth  person  then  in  the  ministry  whom  he 
had  discovered  in  the  course  of  that  visit  to  America, 
in  whose  conversion  he  had,  under  God,  been  instru- 
mental. 

From  Philadelphia,  Whitefield«was  invited  by  Mr. 
Noble  to  New  York ;  this  gentleman  being  the  only 
person  with  whom  he  then  had  an  acquaintance  in 
that  city.  Upon  his  arrival,  he  waited  with  his 
friend  on  the  commissary,  but  he  refused  to  White- 
field  the  use  of  the  church.  This  commissary  of  the 
bishop,  he  says,  "  was  full  of  anger  and  resentment? 
and  denied  me  the  use  of  his  pulpit  before  I  asked  for 
it.  He  said  they  did  not  want  my  assistance.  I  re- 
plied, that  if  they  preached  the  gospel,  I  wished  them 
good  luck  :  I  will  preach  in  the  fields ;  for  all  places 
are  alike  to  me."  The  undaunted  evangelist  there- 
fore preached  in  the  fields ;  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  to  a  very  thronged  and  attentive  audience, 
in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pemberton's  meeting-house,  in  Wall- 
street  ;  and  continued  to  do  so  twice  or  three  times 
a  day,  with  apparent  success. 

Of  this  visit  to  New  York,  and  of  Whitefield's 


112  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

labors  there,  we  have  a  graphic  account,  furnished  by 
one  of  his  hearers,  for  "  Prince's  Christian  History." 
Of  the  first  sermon  in  the  fields,  the  writer  says,  "  I 
fear  curiosity  was  the  motive  that  led  me  and  many 
others  into  that  assembly.  I  had  read  two  or  three 
of  Mr.  Whitefield's  sermons  and  part  of  his  Journal, 
and  from  them  had  obtained  a  settled  opinion,  that  he 
was  a  good  man.  Thus  far  was  I  prejudiced  in  his 
favor.  But  then  having  heard  of  so  much  opposition, 
and  many  clamors  against  him,  I  thought  it  possible 
he  might  have  carried  matters  too  far ;  that  some  en- 
thusiasm might  have  mixed  itself  with  his  piety,  and 
that  his  zeal  might  have  exceeded  his  knowledge. 
With  these  prepossessions  I  went  into  the  fields. 
When  I  came  there,  I  saw  a  great  number  of  people, 
consisting  of  Christians  of  all  denominations,  some 
Jews,  and  a  few,  I  believe,  of  no  religion  at  all. 
When  Mr.  Whitefield  came  to  the  place  designated, 
which  was  a  little  eminence  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  he 
stood  still  and  beckoned  with  his  hand,  and  disposed 
the  multitude  upon  the  descent,  before,  and  on  each 
side  of  him.  He  then  prayed  most  excellently,  in  the 
same  manner,  I  suppose,  that  the  first  ministers  of  the 
Christian  church  prayed.  The  assembly  soon  appear- 
ed to  be  divided  into  two  companies,  the  one  of  which 
I  considered  as  God's  church,  and  the  other  the  devil's 
chapel.  The  first  were  collected  round  the  minister, 
and  were  very  serious  and  attentive ;  the  last  had 
placed  themselves  in  the  skirts  of  the  assembly,  and 
spent  most  of  their  time  in  giggling,  scoffing,  talking, 
and  laughing.  I  believe  the  minister  saw  them,  for 
in  his  sermon,  remarking  on  the  cowardice  and  shame- 


IN  NEW  YORK.  113 

facedness  in  Christ's  cause,  he  pointed  towards  this 
assembly,  and  reproached  the  former,  those  who 
seemed  to  be  Christians,  with  the  boldness  and  zeal 
with  which  the  devil's  vassals  serve  him.  Towards 
the  last  prayer  the  whole  assembly  appeared  more 
united,  and  all  became  hushed  and  still;  a  solemn 
awe  and  reverence  appeared  in  the  faces  of  most,  a 
mighty  energy  attending  the  word.  I  heard  and  felt 
something  astonishing  and  surprising,  but  I  confess  I 
was  not  at  that  time  fully  rid  of  my  scruples.  But  as 
I  thought  I  saw  a  visible  presence  of  God  with  Mr. 
Whitefield,  I  kept  my  doubts  to  myself. 

"  Under  this  frame  of  mind,  I  went  to  hear  him  in 
the  evening  at  the  Presbyterian  church,  where  he  ex- 
pounded to  above  two  thousand  people  within  and 
without  doors.  I  never  in  my  life  saw  so  attentive 
an  audience.  All  he  said  was  demonstration,  life,  and 
power.  The  people's  eyes  and  ears  hung  on  his  lips. 
They  greedily  devoured  every  word.  I  came  home 
astonished.  Every  scruple  vanished ;  I  never  saw 
nor  heard  the  like ;  and  I  said  within  myself,  '  Surely 
God  is  with  this  man,  of  a  truth.'  He  preached  and 
expounded  in  this  manner  twice  every  day  for  four 
days,  and  his  evening  assemblies  were  continually 
increasing. 

"  On  Sunday  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  his  congre- 
gation consisted  of  about  fifteen  hundred  people  ;  but 
at  night  several  thousands  came  together  to  hear  him ; ' 
and  the  place  being  too  strait  for  them,  many  were 
forced  to  go  away,  and  some,  it  is  said,  with  tears 
lamented  their  disappointment.  After  sermon  he  left 
New  York  at  ten  at  night,  to  fulfil  a  promise  that  he 


114,  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

had  made  to  preach  at  Elizabethtown,  at  eleven  A.  M. 
the  next  day." 

We  give  a  few  paragraphs  from  the  same  vigorous 
pen,  relating  to  the  personal  manners  and  the  doc- 
trines of  our  evangelist.  "  He  is  a  man  of  a  middle 
stature,  of  a  slender  body,  of  a  fair  complexion,  and 
of  a  comely  appearance.  He  is  of  a  sprightly,  cheer- 
ful temper,  and  acts  and  moves  with  great  agility  and 
life.  The  endowments  of  his  mind  are  very  uncom- 
mon ;  his  wit  is  quick  and  piercing  ;  his  imagination 
lively  and  florid  ;  and  as  far  as  I  can  discern,  both 
are  under  the  direction  of  an  exact  and  solid  judg- 
ment. He  has  a  most  ready  memory,  and  I  think 
speaks  entirely  without  notes.  He  has  a  clear  and 
musical  voice,  and  a  wonderful  command  of  it.  He 
uses  much  gesture,  but  with  great  propriety.  Every 
accent  of  his  voice,  every  motion  of  his  body  speaks, 
and  both  are  natural  and  unaffected.  If  his  delivery 
is  the  product  of  art,  it  is  certainly  the  perfection  of 
it,  for  it  is  entirely  concealed.  He  has  a  great  mas- 
tery of  words,  but  studies  much  plainness  of  speech. 

"  His  doctrine  is  right  sterling.  I  mean,  perfectly 
agreeable  to  the  Articles  of  the  church  of  England,  to 
which  he  frequently  appeals  for  the  truth  of  it.  He 
loudly  proclaims  all  men  by  nature  to  be  under  sin,  and 
obnoxious  to  the  wrath  and  curse  of  God.  He  maintains 
the  absolute  necessity  of  supernatural  grace  to  bring 
men  out  of  this  state.  He  asserts  the  righteousness 
of  Christ  to  be  the  only  cause  of  the  justification  of 
the  sinner  ;  that  this  is  received  by  faith ;  that  this 
faith  is  the  gift  of  God ;  that  where  faith  is  wrought, 
it  brings  the  sinner  under  the  deepest  sense  of  his 


IN  NEW  YORK.  115 

guilt  and  unworthiness  to  the  footstool  of  sovereign 
grace,  to  accept  of  mercy  as  the  free  gift  of  God,  only 
for  Christ's  sake.  He  denies  that  good  works  have 
any  share  in  our  justification:  that  indeed  they  do 
justify  our  faith,  and  necessarily  flow  from  it,  as 
streams  from  the  fountain ;  but  Christ's  external 
righteousness  imputed  to  us,  and  his  inherent  right- 
eousness wrought  in  us,  is  the  only  cause  of  man's  sal- 
vation. He  asserts  the  absolute  necessity  of  the  new 
birth,  where  a  principle  of  new  life  is  ingenerated  in 
the  heart  of  man,  and  an  entire  change  is  produced  in 
the  temper  and  disposition  of  the  soul ;  and  that  this 
new  production  is  the  work  only  of  God's  blessed 
Spirit.  That  wherever  this  change  is  wrought,  it  is 
permanent  and  abiding,  and  that  the  gates  of  hell 
shall  never  prevail  against  it.  He  asserts  that  the 
special  influence  and  indwelling  of  the  Spirit,  was  not 
peculiar  to  the  first  Christians,  but  that  it  is  the  com- 
mon privilege  of  believers  in  all  ages  of  the  church ; 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  the  author  of  the  sanctification 
and  comfort  of  all  God's  people ;  and  that,  even  in 
these  days,  if  any  man  have  not  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
he  is  none  of  his.  He  said,  that  to  many  of  his  hear- 
ers, he  feared  he  spoke  in  an  unknown  tongue  ;  that 
he  preached  great  mysteries  ;  that  true  Christians 
knew  what  he  meant,  and  that  all  his  hearers,  if  they 
are  saved,  must  be  brought  to  understand  them.  These 
are  some  of  the  doctrines  which  have  been  attended 
with  such  mighty  power  in  this  city.  This  is  the  doc- 
trine of  the  martyrs.  This  they  sealed  with  their 
blood ;  notwithstanding  that  so  many  in  our  days 
have  departed  from  it. 


116  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

"  Mr.  Whitefield  speaks  much  of  the  language  of 
the  New  Testament ;  and  has  an  admirable  faculty  in 
explaining  the  Scriptures.  He  strikes  out  of  them 
such  lights,  and  unveils  those  excellencies  which  sur- 
prise his  hearers,  when  he  expounds  them.  He  ex- 
presses the  highest  love  and  concern  for  the  souls  of 
men ;  and  speaks  of  Christ  with  the  most  affectionate 
appropriation — '  My  Master  !  My  Lord  /'  He  is  no 
enemy  to  the  innocent  freedoms  and  liberties  of  the 
gospel ;  nor  does  he  affect  singularity  in  indifferent 
things.  He  spends  not  his  zeal  in  trifles,  but  says, 
'  The  kingdom  of  God  consists  not  in  meats  and 
drinks ;  but  in  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost.'  He  breathes  a  most  catholic  spirit,  and 
prays  most  earnestly  that  God  would  destroy  all  that 
bigotry  and  party  zeal  which  4ias  divided  Christians. 
He  supposes  some  of  Christ's  flock  are  to  be  found 
under  every  denomination,  and  upbraids  the  uncharit- 
ableness  of  those  who  confine  the  church  to  their  own 
communion.  He  professes  a  most  sincere  love  to  all 
those  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity, 
and  declares  that  he  has  no  design  to  make  a  party 
in  religion.  He  professes  that  his  whole  design  in 
preaching  the  gospel  is  to  bring  men  to  Christ,  to 
deliver  them  from  their  false  confidences,  to  raise 
them  from  their  dead  formalities,  and  to  revive  prim- 
itive Christianity  among  them  ;  and  if  he  can  obtain 
this  end,  he  will  leave  them  to  their  liberty,  and  they 
may  go  to  what  church,  and  worship  God  in  what 
form  they  like  best." 

While  going  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York,  or 
on  his  return,  Whitefield  appears  to  have  preached  «-* 


IN  NEW  YORK.  lit 

Maidenhead,  Abington,  Neshaminy,  Freehold,  Bur- 
lington, Elizabethtown,  and  New  Brunswick,  to  many 
thousands,  gathered  from  various  parts,  among  whom 
there  had  been  a  considerable  awakening  under  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  a  Reformed  Dutch 
minister,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Tennent,  Blair,  and 
Rowland.  It  was  no  less  pleasing  to  him  than 
strange  to  see  such  congregations  in  a  foreign  land ; 
ministers  and  people  shedding  tears,  sinners  struck 
with  awe,  and  religious  persons  who  had  been  much 
persecuted,  filled  with  joy.  The  old  Tennent  church 
at  Freehold,  where  preached  Whitefield,  Brainerd, 
Davies,  and  other  "famous  men"  of  that  day,  still 
echoes  with  the  same  gospel.  In  size  the  building  is 
forty  feet  by  sixty,  with  three  entrances  on  the  larger 
side.  The  pulpit  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  house, 
immediately  opposite  the  central  door,  so  that  the 
minister  faces  the  width  of  the  church  instead  of  its 
length.  The  pulpit  is  very  narrow,  and  is  surmounted 
with  a  sounding-board,  according  to  the  custom  of  our 
fathers.  In  the  middle  aisle  lie  buried  the  remains  of 
the  sainted  William  Tennent,  whose  death  took  place 
about  seven  years  after  that  of  Whitefield,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  A  handsome  monumental  tablet 
records  the  leading  dates  of  his  pilgrimage. 

Some  of  our  readers  may  inquire  as  to  the  local- 
ities honored  by  Whitefield's  preaching  in  and  about 
the  city  of  New  York.  We  find  many  records  of  his 
discoursing  in  the  open  fields  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try ;  the  old  City  Exchange,  which  stood  at  the  foot  of 
Broad-street,  near  Water-street,  and  which  was  built 
on  large  arches,  was  a  favorite  spot  for  itinerant 


118  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

preachers,  and  for  Wliitefield  among  the  rest.  Dur- 
ing his  various  visits  to  New  York,  from  1745  to 
1760,  he  generally  preached  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Wall-street,  which  was  then  the  only  church  of  that 
denomination  in  the  city,  and  of  which  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Pernberton,  from  Boston,  was  the  minister.  After- 
wards, a  few  years  before  his  death,  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  preach  in  the  Brick  church  in  Beekman- 
street ;  which  was  then  familiarly  called  the  "  Brick 
meeting,"  and  in  common  parlance,  said  to  be  "in  the 
fields ;"  so  little  was  the  city  extended  at  that  period. 
So  prosperous  was  his  ministry  in  New  York,  that  it 
was  found  necessary  immediately  to  enlarge  the  Pres- 
byterian church  in  Wall-street,  by  the  erection  of 
galleries  ;  and  a  year  or  two  afterwards  it  was  again 
enlarged  about  one-third,  in  order  to  accommodate 
the  stated  worshippers. 

When  Whitefield  was  preaching  before  a  very 
large  number  of  the  seamen  of  New  York,  he  intro- 
duced the  following  bold  apostrophe  into  his  sermon : 
"  Well,  my  boys,  we  have  a  cloudless  sky,  and  are 
making  fine  headway  over  a  smooth  sea,  before  a  light 
breeze,  and  we  shall  soon  lose  sight  of  land.  But 
what  means  this  sudden  lowering  of  the  heavens,  and 
that  dark  cloud  arising  from  beneath  the  western 
horizon?  Hark!  don't  you  hear  the  distant  thunder  ? 
Don't  you  see  those  flashes  of  lightning  ?  There  is  a 
storm  gathering.  Every  man  to  his  duty.  How  the 
waves  rush  and  dash  against  the  ship !  The  air  is 
dark.  The  tempest  rages.  Our  masts  are  gone ! 
What  next?"  The  unsuspecting  tars,  reminded  of 
former  perils  on  the  deep,  as  if  struck  by  the  power 


IN  NEW  YORK.  119 

of  magic,  arose,  and  with  united  voices  exclaimed, 
"  Take  to  the  longboat,  sir  I"  The  reader  may  well 
imagine  how  this  very  natural  answer  would  be  used 
by  the  preacher. 

While  at  New  York,  Whitefield  wrote,  "  God  will- 
ing, in  about  Seven  months  I  hope  to  see  New  Eng- 
land on  my  return  to  Europe.  An  effectual  door  is 
there  opened,  and  no  wonder  there  are  many  adver- 
saries. Shortly  I  expect  to  suffer  for  my  dear  Mas- 
ter." And  after  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  he  showed 
his  piety  and  meekness  by  writing  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Pemberton,  of  New  York,  "  I  have  been  much  con- 
cerned since  I  saw  you,  lest  I  behaved  not  with  that 
humility  towards  you  which  is  due  from  a  babe  to  a 
father  in  Christ ;  but  you  know,  reverend  sir,  how 
difficult  it  is  to  meet  with  success,  and  not  be  puffed 
up  with  it ;  and  therefore,  if  any  such  thing  was  dis- 
cernible in  my  conduct,  0  pity  me,  and  pray  to  the 
Lord  to  heal  my  pride.  All  I  can  say  is,  that  I  desire 
to  learn  of  Jesus  Christ  to  be  meek  and  lowly  in 
heart :  but  my  corruptions  are  so  strong,  and  my  em- 
ploy so  dangerous,  that  I  am  sometimes  afraid." 

One  of  the  most  important  incidents  of  this  journey 
to  New  York,  was  the  meeting  of  Whitefield  with  Gil- 
bert Tennent.  Two  powerful  preachers  could  hardly 
resemble  each  other  less ;  and  the  great  strength  of 
each  lay  in  characteristics  in  which  the  other  was  de- 
ficient. In  one  point,  especially,  Whitefield  felt  and 
recorded  his  new  friend's  superiority.  He  heard  Ten- 
nent preach.  "  Never  before  heard  I  such  a  searching 
sermon.  He  went  to  the  bottom  indeed,  and  did  not 
'  daub  with  untempered  mortar.'  He  convinced  me, 


120  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

more  and  more,  that  we  can  preach  the  gospel  of 
Christ  no  further  than  we  have  experienced  the  power 
of  it  in  our  hearts.  I  found  what  a  babe  and  novice 
I  was  in  the  things  of  God."  These  men,  as  Tracy 
says,  having  once  met,  could  not  but  be  friends  and 
allies  for  life  j  and  the  effects  of  their  alliance  could 
not  fail  to  be  felt  by  thousands. 

Both  at  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  printers  ap- 
plied to  Whitefield  for  copies  of  his  sermons  for  pub- 
lication, and  two  were  so  issued,  in  the  influence  of 
which  their  author  had  cause  to  rejoice.  In  an  after- 
period,  the  celebrated  Benjamin  Franklin  printed 
Whitefield's  "  Journal  in  New  England,"  still  extant ; 
a  copy  of  which  was  sold  at  auction  in  Philadelphia 
in  1855,  for  about  thirty  times  its  original  price.  His 
journals,  indeed,  and  his  sermons  became  considerable 
articles  in  commerce,  and  did  not  a  little,  amid  the 
comparatively  sparse  population  of  the  country,  to 
extend  both  his  fame  and  his  usefulness. 

But  the  time  was  now  come  when  it  became  im- 
portant that  Whitefield  should  pursue  his  course  tow- 
ards Savannah.  He  could  not,  however,  regret  his 
stay  so  long  on  the  road.  "  It  is  unknown,"  he  says, 
"  what  deep  impressions  have  been  made  on  the  hearts 
of  hundreds.  Many  poor  sinners  have,  I  trust,  been 
called  home,  and  great  numbers  are  under  strong  con- 
victions. An  opposer  told  me  I  had  unhinged  many 
good  sort  ofpeopk.  I  believe  it." 

Nor  was  this  the  only  good  he  had  done.  No 
small  sympathy  had  been  excited  among  Christian 
people  in  favor  of  his  orphan  family,  and  a  spirit  of 
liberality  and  of  prayer  was  extensively  cherished. 


NEW  YORK  TO  GEORGIA.  121 

"  They  sent  me,"  says  the  grateful  evangelist,  "  butter, 
sugar,  chocolate,  pickles,  cheese,  and  flour,  for  my  or- 
phans ;  and  indeed,  I  could  almost  say,  they  would 
pluck  out  their  own  eyes  and  give  me.  0  that  Avhat 
God  says  of  the  church  of  Philadelphia  may  now  be 
fulfilled  in  the  city  called  after  her  name — '  I  know 
thy  works.' " 

The  ready  liberality  which  everywhere  met  White- 
field,  determined  him  to  pursue  his  journey  by  land. 
He  therefore  procured  a  vessel,  in  which  he  sent  on 
his  family  and  their  supplies  to  Savannah.  Of  this 
sloop,  Captain  Gladman  was  master  ;  and  a  young  man 
who  had  recently  been  converted  by  the  preaching  of 
the  great  evangelist,  willingly  offered  himself  as  mate. 
We  have  already  seen  that  he  was  accompanied  south- 
ward as  far  as  Chester  by  a  very  large  company  of 
gentlemen  of  Philadelphia  ;  and  on  his  arrival  at  that 
place,  a  court  was  about  to  open,  but  the  judges  sent 
him  word  that  they  would  not  commence  their  busi- 
ness until  the  sermon,  which  they  expected  from  him, 
was  over.  Nearly  a  thousand  people  had  travelled 
from  Philadelphia  to  hear  it,  and  it  was  thought  th^t 
those  collected  from  places  many  miles  around,  com- 
posed an  assembly  of  not  less  than  seven  thousand 
persons.  A  platform  was  erected,  and  it  was  believed 
that  many  of  his  hearers  obtained  something  infinitely 
better  than  the  mere  gratification  of  their  curiosity. 

Among  other  places  at  which  he  preached  on  this 
journey,  was  White  Clay  creek,  endeared  to  him  not 
only  as  the  place  where  he  first  met  with  his  beloved 
friend  William  Tennent,  but  as  the  residence  of  a 
Welsh  family  who  had  heard  him  preach  at  Cardiff 


122  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

and  Kingswood  before  they  emigrated,  and  who  bore, 
what  was  to  him  a  fact  of  endearing  interest,  the 
name  of  Howell.  But  during  this  tour  Whitefield  had 
to  endure  considerable  privations  and  peril  in  riding 
through  the  woods.  On  one  occasion,  he  heard  the 
wolves  "  howling  like  a  kennel  of  hounds  "  near  to  the 
road  ;  on  another,  he  had  a  narrow  escape  in  trying 
to  cross  the  Potomac  in  a  storm.  Here  also  he  had 
once  to  swim  his  horse,  owing  to  the  floods ;  for  it 
was  now  the  depth  of  winter.  One  night,  Seward 
and  he  lost  their  way  in  the  woods  of  South  Carolina, 
and  were  much  alarmed  at  seeing  groups  of  negroes 
dancing  around  large  fires.  Notwithstanding  all  the 
hardships,  however,  of  the  journey,  no  real  injury  was 
sustained  from  it. 

Our  evangelist  at  length  arrived  at  Charleston  in 
good  health  and  spirits.  But  he  could  not  obtain 
admittance  to  St.  Philip's  church ;  Garden,  the  com- 
missary, who  had  once  promised  to  "  defend  him  with 
life  and  fortune,"  was  absent,  and  the  curate  would 
not  open  the  doors  without  his  leave.  The  people, 
however,  had  not  forgotten  him,  and  the  Rev.  Josiah 
Smith,  the  congregational  minister,  and  the  pastor  of 
the  French  church,  at  once  threw  open  their  houses 
and  pulpits,  and  rich  indeed  were  the  blessings  they 
enjoyed. 

The  congregations  during  his  present  visit  to 
Charleston  were  large  and  polite;  but  he  says  they 
presented  "  an  affected  finery  and  gayety  of  dress  and 
deportment,  which  I  question  if  the  court-end  of  Lon- 
don could  exceed."  Before  he  left,  however,  there 
was  what  he  called  "  a  glorious  alteration  in  the  audi- 


IN  GEORGIA.  123 

ence."  Many  of  them  wept ;  and  the  hitherto  light 
and  airy  had  visibly  strong  feelings,  as  shown  in  their 
countenances.  Such  was  their  extreme  anxiety  to  hear 
more  from  him,  that  after  he  had  gone  to  the  shore  to 
sail  for  Georgia,  they  prevailed  on  him  to  preach 
again. 

On  the  next  morning,  "Whitefield  and  his  compan- 
ions left  Charleston  in  a  canoe  for  Savannah ;  and  on 
their  way  lay  on  the  ground  in  the  woods,  surrounded 
by  large  fires  to  keep  off  the  wild  beasts.  On  this  fact 
he  makes  the  reflection,  "  An  emblem,  I  thought,  of  the 
divine  love  and  presence  keeping  off  evils  and  corrup- 
tions from  the  soul."  On  his  arrival  at  Savannah,  Jan- 
uary 11,  1740,  he  was  very  happy  to  meet  his  family, 
who  had  arrived  there  three  weeks  before  him ;  and 
to  find,  by  letters  from  England,  New  York,  etc.,  that 
the  work  of  the  Lord  prospered.  One  thing,  however, 
greatly  distressed  him.  The  colony  of  Georgia  was 
reduced  even  to  a  much  lower  state  than  when  he  left 
it,  and  was  deserted  by  nearly  all  who  could  get  away. 
He  thought  that  to  employ  those  who  were  left,  would 
render  them  an  important  service,  and  that  the  money 
thus  expended  might  be  the  means  of  keeping  them  in 
the  colony. 

During  the  absence  of  Mr.  Whitefield  from  Geor- 
gia, Mr.  Habersham  had  fixed  on  a  plot  of  ground  of 
five  hundred  acres,  about  ten  miles  from  Savannah,  on 
which  the  orphan-house  should  stand,  and  had  already 
commenced  to  clear  and  stock  it.  The  orphans,  in 
the  mean  time,  were  accommodated  in  a  hired  house. 
Whitefield  afterwards  regretted  the  course  pursued. 
He  found  the  condition  of  the  orphans  so  pitiable,  and 


124  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  inhabitants  so  poor,  that  he  immediately  opened 
an  infirmary,  hired  a  large  house  at  a  great  rent,  and 
took  in,  at  different  times,  twenty-four  orphans. 

In  the  March  following,  Whitefield  was  again  at 
Charleston,  where  he  went  to  meet  his  brother,  the 
captain  of  a  ship,  from  England.  Here  he  was  re- 
quested by  many  of  the  inhabitants  to  give  some 
account  of  his  poor  orphans,  which  he  did  in  the  house 
of  worship  occupied  by  his  friend  the  Rev.  Josiah 
Smith,  the  first  native  of  South  Carolina  who  received 
a  literary  degree.  Such  was  the  spirit  excited,  that 
the  collection  amounted  to  seventy  pounds  sterling. 
This  was  no  small  encouragement,  especially  as  he 
had  reason  to  believe  that  most  of  it  came  from  those 
who  had  received  spiritual  benefit  from  his  ministry. 

But  if  Whitefield  now  had  his  joys  in  Charles- 
ton, so  he  had  also  his  sorrows.  We  have  seen  that 
in  a  previous  visit  to  this  city,  he  had  considered 
himself  "  set  for  the  defence  of  the  gospel."  He  had 
remarked,  in  reference  to  the  twelfth  article  of  the 
church  of  England,  "  Observe,  my  dear  brethren,  the 
words  of  the  article,  '  Good  works  are  the  fruit  of 
faith,  and  follow  after  justification.'  How  can  they 
then  precede,  or  be  in  any  way  the  cause  of  it  ?  No, 
our  persons  must  be  justified,  before  our  performances 
can  be  accepted."  Commissary  Garden,  of  whom  we 
have  already  spoken,  now  seized  the  opportunity  of 
Whitefield's  visit  to  Charleston,  to  write  him  a  letter, 
dated  March  17,  attacking  his  doctrine  of  justifica- 
tion, and  challenging  him  to  defend  what  he  had  said 
concerning  the  bishop  of  London  and  his  clergy.  In 
this  letter,  he  urged  in  reply  to  what  the  evangelist 


IN  CHARLESTON.  125 

had  said,  "  If  good  works  do  necessarily  spring  out  of 
a  true  and  lively  faith,  and  a  true  and  lively  faith 
necessarily  precedes  justification,  the  consequence  is 
plain,  that  good  works  must  not  only  follow  after,  but 
precede  justification  also."  Whitefield  replied  the 
next  day,  "  I  perceive  that  you  are  angry  overmuch. 
Was  I  never  so  much  inclined  to  dispute,  I  would 
stay  till  the  cool  of  the  day.  Your  letter  more  and 
more  confirms  me,  that  my  charge  against  the  clergy 
is  just  and  reasonable.  It  would  be  endless  to  enter 
into  such  a  private  debate  as  you,  reverend  sir,  seem 
desirous  of.  You  have  read  my  sermon  :  be  pleased 
to  read  it  again  ;  and  if  there  be  any  thing  contrary 
to  sound  doctrine,  or  the  Articles  of  the  church  of 
England,  be  pleased  to  let  the  public  know  it  from 
the  press  ;  and  then  let  the  world  judge  whether  you 
or  my  brethren  the  clergy  have  been  rashly  slandered." 
This  was  but  the  commencement  of  a  controversy,  in 
which  were  concerned  Garden  of  Charleston,  and  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Croswell  and  Gee  of  Boston,  portions  of 
which  are  preserved  in  the  Old  South  church  library, 
in  the  latter  city  ;  and  which  was  afterwards  resumed 
between  Garden  and  Smith,  of  Charleston,  in  the 
"  South  Carolina  Gazette,"  as  may  be  seen  in  the 
library  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society  at  Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts. 

In  the  mean  time,  Whitefield  had  returned  to  Sa- 
vannah, and  on  March  25,  he  laid  the  first  brick  of 
the  main  building  of  the  orphan-house,  which  he  called 
Bethesda,  that  is,  a  house  of  mercy.  It  was  built  of 
wood,  and  measured  seventy  feet  by  forty.  By  this 
time  nearly  forty  children  had  been  received,  to  be 


126  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

provided  for  with  food  and  raiment ;  and  counting 
the  workmen  with  these,  he  had  nearly  one  hundred 
persons  to  feed  day  by  day.  To  do  all  this  he  had 
very  little  money  in  the  bank ;  still  he  was  not  dis- 
couraged, being  persuaded  that  his  present  duty  was 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  colony  by  carrying  on 
his  work.  "  As  yet,"  says  he,  "  I  am  kept  from  the 
least  doubting.  The  more  my  family  increases,  the 
more  enlargement  and  comfort  I  feel.  Set  thy  al- 
mighty fiat  to  it,  0  gracious  Father,  and  for  thine 
own  name's  sake  convince  us  more  and  more,  that  thou 
wilt  never  forsake  those  who  put  their  trust  in  thee." 
On  reviewing  this  passage  fifteen  years  afterwards, 
he  wrote,  "  Hitherto,  blessed  be  God,  I  have  not  been 
disappointed  of  my  hope." 

We  close  our  present  chapter  with  a  very  short 
visit  to  Charleston.  In  this  city  Whitefield  had  as- 
suredly produced  a  very  extraordinary  excitement, 
and  very  opposite  opinions  were  entertained  in  refer- 
ence to  his  character  and  doctrines.  On  the  day 
after  he  had  laid  the  first  stone  of  Bethesda,  Mr.  Smith 
undertook  at  Charleston  to  defend  the  conduct  and 
character  of  his  beloved  friend,  in  a  sermon  from  Job 
32  : 17 :  "I  said,  I  will  answer  also'my  part ;  I  also 
will  show  mine  opinion."  As  this  discourse  was  pub- 
lished during  the  following  June,  with  a  commenda- 
tory preface  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Colman  and  Cooper 
of  Boston,  and  is  still  highly  valued  as  a  piece  of  con- 
temporary history,  we  give  an  extract,  particularly  as 
to  the  manner  of  the  preaching  of  the  great  evangelist. 

"He  is  certainly  a  finished  preacher.  A  noble 
negligence  ran  through  his  style.  The  passion  and 


IN  GEORGIA.  12t 

flame  of  his  expressions  will,  I  trust,  be  long  felt  by 
many.  My  pen  cannot  describe  his  action  and  ges- 
tures, in  all  their  strength  and  decencies.  He  appear- 
ed to  me,  in  all  his  discourses,  to  be  very  deeply  affect- 
ed and  impressed  in  his  own  heart.  How  did  that 
burn  and  boil  within  him,  when  he  spake  of  the  things 
which  he  had  '  made  touching  the  King.'  How  was 
his  tongue  like  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  touched  as 
with  a  coal  from  the  altar.  With  what  a  flow  of 
words,  what  a  ready  profusion  of  language,  did  he 
speak  to  us  upon  the  great  concerns  of  our  souls.  In 
what  a  flaming  light  did  he  set  our  eternity  before  us. 
How  earnestly  he  pressed  Christ  upon  us.  How  did 
he  move  our  passions  with  the  constraining  love  of 
such  a  Redeemer.  The  awe,  the  silence,  the  attention 
which  sat  upon  the  face  of  the  great  audience,  was  an 
argument  how  he  could  reign  over  all  their  powers. 
Many  thought  he  spake  as  never  man  spake  before 
him.  So  charmed  were  the  people  with  his  manner 
of  address,  that  they  shut  up  their  shops,  forgot  their 
secular  business,  and  laid  aside  their  schemes  for  the 
world  ;  and  the  oftener  he  preached,  the  keener  edge 
he  seemed  to  put  upon  their  desires  to  hear  him  again. 
"  How  awfully,  with  what  thunder  and  sound,  did 
he  discharge  the  artillery  of  heaven  upon  us.  And 
yet,  how  could  he  soften  and  melt  even  a  soldier  of 
Ulysses  with  the  mercy  of  God.  How  close,  strong, 
and  pungent  were  his  applications  to  the  conscience  ; 
mingling  light  and  heat ;  pointing  the  arrows  of  the 
Almighty  at  the  hearts  of  sinners,  while  he  poured  in 
the  balm  upon  the  wounds  of  the  contrite,  and  made 
broken  bones  rejoice.  Eternal  themes,  the  tremendous 


128  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

solemnities  of  our  religion,  were  all  alive  upon  his 
tongue.  So,  methinks — if  you  will  forgive  the  figure — 
St.  Paul  would  look  and  speak  in  a  pulpit.  In  some 
such  manner,  I  am  tempted  to  conceive  of  a  seraph, 
were  he  sent  down  to  preach  among  us,  and  to  tell  us 
what  things  he  had  seen  and  heard  above. 

How  bold  and  courageous  did  he  look.  He  was 
no  flatterer  ;  he  would  not  suffer  men  to  settle  on  their 
lees;  and  did  not  prophesy  smooth  things,  nor  sew 
pillows  under  their  arms.  He  taught  the  way  of  God 
in  truth,  and  regarded  not  the  persons  of  men.  He 
struck  at  the  politest  and  most  modish  of  our  vices, 
and  at  the  most  fashionable  entertainments,  regardless 
of  every  one's  presence,  but  His  in  whose  name  he 
spoke  with  this  authority.  And  I  dare  warrant,  if 
none  should  go  to  these  diversions  until  they  have 
answered  the  solemn  questions  he  put  to  their  con- 
sciences, our  theatre  would  soon  sink  and  perish.  I 
freely  own  he  has  taken  my  heart." 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  129 


CHAPTER   V. 

CONTINUATION  OF  WHITEFlELD'S   SECOND  VISIT  TO 

AMERICA. 

1740. 

AT  the  period  when  Whitefield  laid  the  corner- 
stone of  his  Bethesda,  his  health  was  much  impair- 
ed, and  his  spirits  depressed.  But  it  was  necessary 
that  funds  should  be  obtained,  to  meet  the  claims  now 
daily  made  upon  him.  He  had  received  handsome 
donations  from  Charleston,  New  York,  and  Phila- 
delphia, yet  the  urgent  demand  was  for  more.  He 
therefore  embarked  from  Charleston  for  Newcastle, 
Delaware,  in  a  sloop,  and  arrived  there  in  about  ten 
days.  Passing  on  from  thence  to  Philadelphia,  he 
found  the  churches  closed  against  him.  The  commis- 
sary told  him  that  he  would  lend  the  church  to  him 
no  more.  The  laconic  answer  of  Whitefield  was, 
"  The  fields  are  open ;"  and  eight  thousand  people 
assembled  to  hear  him  the  same  evening,  and  ten  thou- 
sand on  the  following  day.  On  the  following  Lord's 
day  morning,  he  collected  one  hundred  and  ten  pounds 
sterling  for  his  "  poor  orphans,"  and  then  went  to  the 
Episcopal  church,  where  the  commissary  preached  a 
sermon  on  justification  by  works.  As  Whitefield  was 
recognized  at  church,  it  was  naturally  expected  that 
in  the  evening  he  would  answer  the  sermon ;  nor  was 
the  public  expectation  disappointed.  After  his  ser- 
mon, he  collected  eighty  pounds  more  for  Bethesda. 


130  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

But  far  higher  success  than  this  attended  his  labors. 
Societies  for  worship  were  commenced  in  different 
parts  of  the  town ;  not  a  few  began  seriously  to  in- 
quire after  the  way  of  salvation  ;  many  negroes  came 
to  the  evangelist  with  the  inquiry,  "  Have  I  a  soul  ?" 
and  a  church  was  formed,  of  which  the  distinguished 
Gilbert  Tennent  was  the  eminently  useful  pastor.  No 
less  than  one  hundred  and  forty,  who  had  undergone 
a  previous  strict  examination  as  to  their  personal 
piety,  were  received  as  constituent  members  of  the 
church,  and  large  additions  were  from  time  to  time 
made  to  their  number. 

Several  events  of  special  interest  occurred  during 
this  visit  to  Philadelphia.  Tennent  had  to  tell  a  series 
of  delightful  facts  as  to  the  usefulness  of  Whitefield's 
former  labors.  He  began  to  deliberate  on  a  plan  for 
a  negro  school  in  Pennsylvania,  as  he  did  afterwards 
also  in  Virginia,  but  unexpected  difficulties  intervened, 
and  both  in  the  end  were  abandoned.  Mr.  Jones,  the 
Baptist  minister  of  the  city,  told  Whitefield  of  the 
change  produced  by  his  former  preaching  on  the  minds 
of  two  ministers ;  one  of  whom  stated  to  his  congre- 
gation that  he  had  hitherto  been  deceiving  both  him- 
self and  them,  and  added,  that  he  could  not  preach  to 
them  at  present,  but  requested  them  to  unite  in  prayer 
with  him ;  and  the  other  resigned  his  charge,  to  itin- 
erate among  the  unenlightened  villages  of  New  Jersey 
and  elsewhere.  Another  fact  was,  that  an  Indian 
trader  became  so  impressed  with  the  preaching  of 
Whitefield,  that  he  had  given  up  his  business,  and 
was  gone  to  teach  the  Indians  with  whom  he  used  to 
trade.  Nor  had  his  usefulness  stopped  here  :  he  heard 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  131 

of  a  drinking  club,  which  haft  attached  to  it  a  negro 
boy  remarkable  for  his  powers  of  mimicry.  This  boy 
was  directed  by  the  gentlemen  who  composed  the 
club  to  exercise  his  powers  on  Mr.  Whitefield :  he  did 
so,  but  very  reluctantly ;  at  length  he  stood  up  and 
said,  "  I  speak  the  truth  in  Christ,  I  lie  not ;  unless 
you  repent,  you  will  all  be  damned."  This  unexpected 
speech  had  such  an  effect  as  to  break  up  the  club, 
which  met  no  more. 

We  add  a  few  paragraphs  from  Seward's  journal, 
who  soon  after  sailed  for  England  to  promote  the 
interests  of  Georgia,  and  who  died  in  the  parent  coun- 
try. They  date  from  the  24th  to  the  26th  of  April. 
"  Came  to  Christopher  Wigner's  plantation  in  Skip- 
pack,  where  many  Dutch  people  are  settled,  and 
where  the  famous  Mr.  Spalemburg  lately  resided.  It 
was  surprising  to  see  such  a  multitude  of  people  gath- 
ered together  in  such  a-  wilderness  country,  thirty 
miles  distant  from  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Whitefield  was 
exceedingly  carried  out,  in  his  sermon,  to  press  poor 
sinners  to  come  to  Christ  by  faith,  and  claim  all  their 
privileges  ;  namely,  not  only  righteousness  and  peace, 
but  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  after  he  had  done, 
our  dear  friend  Peter  Bohler  preached  in  Dutch,  to 
those  who  could  not  understand  Mr.  Whitefield  in 
English." 

"  Before  Mr.  Whitefield  left  Philadelphia,  he  was 
desired  to  visit  one  who  was  under  a  deep  sense  of  sin, 
from  hearing  him  preach.  In  praying  with  this  person, 
he  was  so  carried  beyond  himself,  that  the  whole 
company,  about  twenty,  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  magnified  the  God  of  heaven." 


132  GEORGE  WHITEFJELD. 

"  Arose  at  three  o'clock,  and  though  Mr.  White- 
field  was  very  weak  in  body,  yet  the  Lord  enabled 
him  to  ride  nearly  fifty  miles,  and  to  preach  to  about 
five  thousand  people  at  Amwell,  with  the  same  power 
as  usual.  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  Mr.  Rowland,  Mr. 
Wales,  and  Mr.  Campbell,  four  godly  ministers,  met 
us  here." 

"  Came  to  New  Brunswick.  Met  Mr.  Noble  from 
New  York,  a  zealous  promoter  of  our  Lord's  king- 
dom. He  said  their  society  at  New  York  was  en- 
larged from  seventy  to  one  hundred  and  seventy,  and 
was  daily  increasing ;  and  that  Messrs.  Gilbert  and 
William  Tennent,  Mr.  Rowland,  and  several  others, 
were  hard  laborers  in  our  Lord's  vineyard." 

It  will  be  readily  supposed  that  by  this  time 
Whitefield  and  his  movements  had  become  so  much  a 
matter  of  interest  as  to  be  frequently  discussed  in  the 
newspapers  of  the  day. 

The  "  New  England  Weekly  Journal"  of  April  29, 
1740,  copies  from  a  Philadelphia  paper  of  April  17  : 
"  The  middle  of  last  month  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield 
was  at  Charleston,  and  preached  five  times,  and  col- 
lected at  one  time  upwards  of  £70  sterling  for  the 
benefit  of  the  orphan-house  in  Georgia  ;  and  on  .Sun- 
day last,  after  ten  days'  passage  from  Georgia,  he 
landed  at  Newcastle,  where  he  preached  morning  and 
evening.  On  Monday  morning  he  preached  to  about 
three  thousand  at  Wilmington,  and  in  the  evening 
arrived  in  this  city.  On  Tuesday  evening  he  preached 
to  about  eight  thousand  on  Society  hill,  and  preached 
at  the  same  place  yesterday  morning  and  evening." 
Then  follows  a  list  of  his  appointments  daily  to  April 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  133 

29,  during  which  time  he  was  to  preach  at  White- 
marsh,  Germantown,  Philadelphia,  Salem,  N.  J.,  Ne- 
shaminy,  Skippack,  Frederick  township,  Amwell,  New 
Brunswick,  Elizabethtown,  and  New  York.  On  May 
Gth,  the  Journal  copied  a  Philadelphia  notice  of  April 
24th,  that  he  had  preached  on  the  previous  Sabbath  to 
fifteen  thousand  hearers,  and  on  Monday  at  Green- 
wich and  Gloucester,  and  that  he  would  return  to 
Georgia  before  visiting  New  England. 

The  Journal  of  May  20th,  contains  a  letter  from 
Whitefield  to  a  friend  in  England,  dated  New  Bruns- 
wick, N.  J.,  April  27.  Of  his  visit  to  Charleston 
he  says,  "  A  glorious  work  was  begun  in  the  hearts  of 
the  inhabitants,  and  many  were  brought  to  cry  out, 
'  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?'  A  fortnight  ago, 
after  a  short  passage  of  ten  days,  I  landed  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  and 
hearing  that  my  poor  endeavors  for  promoting  Christ's 
kingdom,  when  here  last,  were  not  altogether  in  vain 
in  the  Lord.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  many  have  come 
to  me  laboring  under  the  deepest  convictions,  and 
seemingly  truly  desirous  of  finding  rest  in  Jesus  Christ. 
Several  have  actually  received  him  into  their  hearts 
by  faith,  and  have  not  only  righteousness  and  peace, 
but  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  In  short,  the  word  has 
run  and  been  much  glorified,  and  many  negroes  also 
are  in  a  fair  way  of  being  brought  home  to  God. 
Young  ones  I  intend  to  buy,  and  do  not  despair  of 
seeing  a  room  full  of  that  despised  generation,  in  a 
short  time,  singing  and  making  melody  with  grace  in 
their  hearts  to  the  Lord. 

"An  effectual  door  is  opened  for  preaching  the 


134  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

everlasting  gospel,  and  I  daily  receive  fresh  and  most 
importunate  invitations  to  preach  in  all  the  counties 
round  about.  God  is  pleased  to  give  a  great  blessing 
to  my  printed  sermons.  They  are  in  the  hands  of 
thousands  in  these  parts,  and  are  a  means  of  enlight- 
ening and  building  up  many  in  their  most  holy  faith. 
The  clergy,  I  find,  are  most  offended  at  me.  The 
commissary  of  Philadelphia,  having  gotten  a  little 
stronger  than  when  I  was  here  last,  has  thrown  off 
the  mask,  denied  me  the  pulpit,  and  last  Sunday 
preached  up  an  historical  faith,  and  justification  by 
works.  But  the  people  only  flock  the  more.  The 
power  of  God  is  more  visible  than  ever  in  our  assem- 
blies, and  more  and  more  are  convinced  that  I  preach 
the  doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ.  Some  of  the  bigoted, 
self-righteous  Quakers  now  also  begin  to  spit  out  a 
little  of  the  venom  of  the  serpent.  They  cannot  bear 
the  doctrine  of  original  sin,  and  of  an  imputed  right- 
eousness as  the  cause  of  our  acceptance  with  God. 
I  have  not  yet  met  with  much  opposition  from  the 
dissenters ;  but  when  I  come  to  tell  many  of  them, 
ministers  as  well  as  people,  that  they  hold  the  truth 
in  unrighteousness,  that  they  talk  and  preach  of  justi- 
fying faith,  but  never  felt  it  in  their  heartst  as  I  am 
persuaded  numbers  of  them  have  not,  then  they  no 
doubt  will  shoot  out  their  arrows,  even  bitter  words." 
While  on  his  voyage  from  Charleston  to  Newcas- 
tle, Whitefield  seems  to  have  devoted  the  4th  of  April, 
1740,  to  correspondence  on  the  subject  of  marriage. 
"  I  find,"  said  he,  "  by  experience,  that  a  mistress  is 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  due  management  of  my 
increasing  family,  and  to  take  off  some  of  that  care 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  135 

whioh  at  present  lies  upon  me."  His  letters  were  ad- 
dressed to  a  young  lady  and  her  parents,  connected 
with  a  family  much  devoted  to  piety.  Here,  as  every- 
where else,  his  heart  is  transparent.  He  says  to  the 

parents  of  Miss  E ,  "  I  write  only  because  I  believe 

it  is  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  alter  my  state ;  but 
your  denial  will  fully  convince  me  that  your  daughter 
is  not  the  person  appointed  for  me.  He  knows  my 
heart ;  I  would  not  marry  but  for  him,  and  in  him,  for 
ten  thousand  worlds." 

The  next  year,  having  returned  to  England,  White- 
field,  like  his  eminent  friend  John  Wesley,  was  mar- 
ried, and  like  him  also,  was  unhappy  in  his  domestic 
relation.  In  each  case,  the  husband  exacted  a  previ- 
ous pledge  that  the  wife  should  never  prevent  the 
delivery  of  a  single  sermon ;  and  this  was  followed 
by  separation  from  the  wife  for  weeks,  months,  or 
even  years,  in  the  prosecution  of  their  arduous  labors. 
In  the  case  of  Whitefield,  his  marriage  in  Wales,  with 
a  widow  lady,  in  1741,  was  followed  by  the  birth  of 
a  son ;  previous  to  which  event  he  had  said,  in  the 
joy  of  his  heart,  that  his  name  should  be  John,  and 
that  he  should  be  a  preacher  of  the  everlasting  gos- 
pel. The  first  prediction  was  realized,  and  when  his 
child  was  a  week  old,  the  good  man  told  his  people  in 
the  Tabernacle,  London,  that  he  would  live  to  preach, 
and  "  be  great  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord."  But  alas, 
at  the  end  of  four  months  John  died,  and  his  father 
very  wisely  wrote  in  his  journal :  "  I  hope  what  hap- 
pened before  his  birth,  and  since  at  his  death,  has 
taught  me  such  lessons  as,  if  duly  improved,  may  ren- 
der his  mistaken  parent  more  sober-minded,  more  ex- 


136  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

perienced  in  Satan's  devices,  and  consequently  more 
useful  in  his  future  labors  in  the  church  of  God." 

On  the  death  of  his  wife  somewhat  suddenly,  Au- 
gust 9,  1768,  Mr.  Whitefield  himself  preached  her 
funeral  sermon,  from  Romans  8  :  28  :  "  And  we  know 
that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  God,  to  them  that  are  the  called  according  to  his 
purpose."  In  describing  her  character,  he  particular- 
ly mentioned  her  fortitude  and  courage,  and  suddenly 
exclaimed,  "  Do  you  remember  my  preaching  in  those 
fields  by  the  stump  of  the  old  tree  ?  The  multitude 
was  great,  and  many  were  disposed  to  be  riotous.  At 
first  I  addressed  them  with  firmness ;  but  when  a  gang 
of  desperate  banditti  drew  near,  with  the  most  fero- 
cious looks,  and  horrid  imprecations  and  menaces, 
my  courage  began  to  fail.  My  wife  was  then  stand- 
ing behind  me,  as  I  stood  on  the  table.  I  think  I 
hear  her  now.  She  pulled  my  gown" — himself  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  by  placing  his  hand  behind 
him  and  touching  his  robe — "and  looking  up,  said, 
'  George,  play  the  man  for  your  God.'  My  confidence 
returned.  I  again  spoke  to  the  multitude  with  bold- 
ness and  affection ;  they  became  still ;  and  many  were 
deeply  affected." 

Before  we  leave  Philadelphia,  we  may  relate  an 
instance  or  two  as  to  the  power  of  his  eloquence.  Dr. 
Franklin  says,  "  He  had  a  loud  and  clear  voice,  and 
articulated  his  words  so  perfectly  that  he  might  be 
heard  and  understood  to  a  great  distance ;  especially 
as  his  auditors  observed  the  most  profound  silence. 
He  preached  one  evening  from  the  top  of  the  cqurt- 
house  steps,  which  are  in  the  middle  of  Market-street, 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  137 

and  on  the  west  side  of  Second-street,  which  crosses 
it  at  right  angles.  Both  streets  were  filled  with  his 
hearers  to  a  considerable  distance.  Being  among  the 
hindmost  in  Market-street,  I  had  the  curiosity  to  learn 
how  far  he  might  be  heard  by  setting  backwards  down 
the  street  towards  the  river ;  and  I  found  his  voice 
distinct  till  I  came  near  Front-street,  where  some 
noise  in  that  street  obstructed  it.  Imagine,  then,  a 
semicircle  of  which  my  distance  should  be  a  radius, 
and  that  it  was  filled  with  auditors,  to  each  of  whom 
I  allowed  two  square  feet,  I  computed  that  he  might 
well  be  heard  by  more  than  thirty  thousand  people." 
But  not  only  does  Franklin  bear  witness  of  White- 
field's  eloquence  as  to  his  voice,  but  still  more  strong- 
ly as  to  its  persuasiveness,  of  which,  it  seems,  he  was 
himself  a  striking  illustration.  He  says,  "I  refused 
to  contribute  to  his  orphan-house  in  Georgia,  think- 
ing it  injudiciously  located.  Soon  after,  I  happened 
to  attend  one  of  his  sermons,  in  the  course  of  which 
I  perceived  he  intended  to  finish  with  a  collection, 
and  I  silently  resolved  he  should  get  nothing  from 
me.  I  had  in  my  pocket  a  handful  of  copper  mon- 
ey, three  or  four  silver  dollars,  and  five  pistoles  in 
gold.  As  he  proceeded,  I  began  to  soften,  and  de- 
termined to  give  the  copper.  Another  stroke  of  his 
oratory  made  me  ashamed  of  that,  and  determined  me 
to  give  the  silver ;  and  he  finished  so  admirably,  that 
I  emptied  my  pocket  wholly  into  the  collector's  dish, 
gold  and  all.  At  this  sermon  there  was  also  one  of 
our  club  ;  who  being  of  my  sentiments  respecting  the 
building  at  Georgia,  and  suspecting  a  collection  might 
be  intended,  had,  by  precaution,  emptied  his  pockets 


138  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

before  he  came  from  home.  Towards  the  conclusion 
of  the  discourse;  however,  he  felt  a  strong  inclination 
to  give,  and  applied  to  a  neighbor,  who  stood  near 
him,  to  lend  him  some  money  for  the  purpose.  The 
request  was  made  to,  perhaps,  the  only  man  in  the 
company  who  had  the  firmness  not  to  be  affected  by 
the  preacher.  His  answer  was,  '  At  any  other  time, 
friend  Hodgkinson,  I  would  lend  to  thee  freely ;  but 
not  now,  for  thee  seems  to  be  out  of  thy  right 
senses.' " 

Whitefield,  much  as  he  loved  Philadelphia,  had 
now  again  to  leave  it.  Thus  writes  the  correspond- 
ent of  the  "  New  England  Weekly  Journal,"  at  New- 
castle, May  15  :  "  This  evening  Mr.  Whitefield  went 
on  board  his  sloop  here,  to  sail  for  Georgia.  On  Sun- 
day he  preached  twice  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  the 
evening,  when  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon,  it  is 
supposed  he  had  twenty  thousand  hearers.  On  Mon- 
day he  preached  at  Darby  and  Chester ;  on  Tuesday, 
at  Wilmington  and  White  Clay  creek ;  on  Wednes- 
day, twice  at  Nottingham  j  on  Thursday,  at  Fog's 
Manor  and  Newcastle.  The  congregations  were  much 
increased  since  his  being  here  last.  The  presence  of 
God  was  much  seen  in  the  assemblies,  especially  at 
Nottingham  and  Fog's  Manor,  where  the  people  were 
under  such  deep  soul  distress,  that  their  cries  almost 
drowned  his  voice.  He  has  collected  in  this  and  the 
neighboring  provinces,  about  X450  sterling  for  his 
orphans  in  Georgia." 

He  arrived  at  Savannah  .June  5,  and  most  inter- 
esting was  the  manner  of  his  reception.  He  says,  "  0 
what  a  sweet  meeting  I  had  with  my  dear  friends ! 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  139 

What  God  has  prepared  for  me,  I  know  not;  but 
surely  I  cannot  well  expect  a  greater  happiness,  till 
I  embrace  the  saints  in  glory.  When  I  parted,  my 
heart  was  ready  to  break  with  sorrow ;  but  now  it 
almost  bursts  with  joy.  0  how  did  each  in  turn 
hang  upon  my*neck,  kiss,  and  weep  over  me  with 
tears  of  joy !  And  my  own  soul  was  so  full  of  a  sense 
of  God's  love  when  I  embraced  one  friend  in  particu- 
lar, that  I  thought  I  should  have  expired  in  the  place. 
I  felt  my  soul  so  full  of  a  sense  of  the  divine  goodness, 
that  I  wanted  words  to  express  myself.  Why  me, 
Lord ;  why  me  ?  When  we  came  to  public  worship, 
young  and  old  were  all  dissolved  in  tears.  After 
service,  several  of  my  parishioners,  all  my  family,  and 
the  little  children,  returned  home,  crying  along  the 
streets,  and  some  could  not  avoid  praying  very  loud. 

"  Being  very  weak  in  body,  I  laid  myself  upon  a 
bed  ;  but  finding  so  many  weeping,  I  rose  and  betook 
myself  to  prayer  again.  But  had  I  not  lifted  up  my 
voice  very  high,  the  groans  and  cries  of  the  children 
would  have  prevented  my  being  heard.  This  con- 
tinued for  near  an  hour ;  till  at  last,  finding  their 
concern  rather  increase  than  abate,  I  desired  all  to  re- 
tire. Then  some  or  other  might  be  heard  praying  ear- 
nestly, in  every  corner  of  the  house.  •  It  happened  at 
this  time  to  thunder  and  lighten,  which  added  very 
much  to  the  solemnity  of  the  night.  Next  day  the 
concern  still  continued,  especially  among  the  girls.  I 
mention  the  orphans  in  particular,  that  their  bene- 
factors may  rejoice  in  what  God  is  doing  for  their 
souls."  . 

On  the  7th  of  June,  he  wrote,  "  I  have  brought 


140  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

with  me  a  Latin  master,  and  on  Monday  laid  the 
foundation,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  for  a  uni- 
versity in  Georgia."  On  the  28th  of  the  same  month, 

he  wrote  to  a  Mr.  W.  D ,  in  a  style  admirably 

corresponding  with  the  meek  spirit  we  have  already 
seen  in  his  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Perflberton,  of  New 
York.  "  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  letters  and  friend- 
ly cautions  ;  and  I  trust  I  shall  always  reckon  those 
my  choicest  friends,  who,  in  simplicity  and  meekness, 
tell  me  the  corruptions  of  my  heart.  It  is  that  faith- 
fulness which  has  endeared  J.  S to  me.  I  think 

I  never  was  obliged  to  any  one  so  much  before.  0 
my  dear  brother,  still  continue  faithful  to  my  soul ; 
do  not  hate  me  in  your  heart  j  in  any  wise  reprove 
me.  Exhort  all  my  brethren  to  forgive  my  past,  I 
fear,  too  imperious  carriage ;  and  let  them  pray  that 
I  may  know  myself  to  be,  what  I  really  am,  less  than 
the  least  of  them  all." 

Whitefield's  family  at  Bethesda  had  now  increased 
to  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  and  to 
advance  their  interests,  it  was  needful  that  he  should 
again  visit  Charleston,  where  he  arrived  on  the  third 
of  July,  and  immediately  commenced  preaching,  as  on 
former  visits.  On  the  following  Sabbath,  three  days 
after  his  arrival,  he  attended  the  Episcopal  church, 
where,  he  says,  "  I  heard  the  commissary  preach  as 
virulent  and  unorthodox,  inconsistent  a  discourse,  as 
ever  I  heard  in  my  life.  His  heart  seemed  full  of 
choler  and  resentment.  Out  of  the  abundance  thereof, 
he  poured  forth  so  many  bitter  words  against  the 
Methodists,  as  he  called  them,  in  general;  and  me  in 
particular  tVi°t  several  who  intpn^ed  to  ro^pivp  ^-~ 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  141 

sacrament  at  his  hands,  withdrew.  Never,  I  believe, 
was  such  a  preparation  sermon  preached  before.  Af- 
ter sermon,  he  sent  his  clerk  to  desire  me  not  to  come 
to  the  sacrament  till  he  had  spoken  with  me.  I  im- 
mediately retired  to  my  lodgings,  rejoicing  that  I  was 
accounted  worthy  to  suffer  this  further  degree  of  con- 
tempt for  my  dear  Lord's  sake." 

The  next  day,  the  commissary  of  the  bishop  of 
London  issued  against  "Whitefield  the  following  eccle- 
siastical writ : 

"  Alexander  Garden,  lawfully  constituted  Commis- 
sary of  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  Christ,  Ed- 
mund, by  divine  permission  Lord  Bishop  of  London, 
supported  by  the  royal  authority  underwritten : 

"  Alexander  Garden,  To  all  and  singular  clerks, 
and  literate  persons  whomsoever,  in  and  throughout 
the  whole  province  of  South  Carolina,  wheresoever 
appointed,  Greeting: 

"  To  you,  conjunctly  and  severally,  we  commit,  and 
strictly  enjoining,  command,  that  you  do  cite,  or  cause 
to  be  cited,  peremptorily,  George  Whitefield,  clerk, 
and  presbyter  of  the  Church  of  England,  that  he  law- 
fully appear  before  us,  in  the  parish  church  of  St. 
Philip,  Charleston,  and  in  the  judicial  place  of  the 
same,  on  Tuesday,  the  fifteenth  day  of  this  instant 
July,  'twixt  the  hours  of  nine  and  ten  in  the  forenoon, 
then  and  there  injustice  to  answer  to  certain  articles, 
heads,  or  interrogatories,  which  will  be  objected  and 
ministered  unto  him  concerning  the  mere  health  of 
his  soul,  and  the  reformation  and  correction  of  his 
manners  and  excesses,  and  chiefly  for  omitting  to  use 
the  form  of  prayers  prescribed  in  the  Communion- 


, 

142  GEORGE  TVHITEFIELD. 

Book ;  and  further  to  do  and  receive  what  shall  be 
just  in  that  behalf,  on  pain  of  law  and  contempt.  And 
what  you  shall  do  in  the  premises,  you  shall  duly  cer- 
tify us,  together  with  these  presents. 

"  Given  under  our  hands  and  seals  of  our  office,  at 
Charleston,  this  seventh  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty." 

Justice  to  all  parties  requires  it  should  be  said, 
that  the  phrase  as  to  the  health  of  Whitefield's  soul 
was  used  by  Garden  not  of  choice,  but  in  conformity 
with  the  forms  of  English  ecclesiastical  law ;  the 
theory  of  which  is,  that  ecclesiastical  courts  are  only 
held  to  promote  the  spiritual  health  or  welfare  of 
those  who  are  cited  into  them.  The  principal  sin  of 
Whitefield  was  "  omitting  to  use  the  form  of  prayer 
prescribed  in  the  Common  Prayer  Book."  The  un- 
disputed matter  of  fact,  as  Tracy  says,  was,  that  he 
always  used  that  form  when  he  could  obtain  an  Epis- 
copal church  to  preach  in  ;  but  when  he  was  shut  out 
of  such  pulpits,  and  was  preaching  to  Baptists,  Pres- 
byterians, and  Congregationalists,  in  their  own  houses 
of  worship,  where  none  of  the  congregations  had 
prayer  books,  or  knew  how  to  use  them,  and  where 
the  introduction  of  unaccustomed  forms  would  not 
have  promoted  the  devotion  of  the  worshippers,  he 
prayed  extempore. 

On  the  day  this  writ  was  issued,  Whitefield  preach- 
ed for  Mr.  Chanler,  "  a  gracious  Baptist  minister, 
about  fourteen  miles  from  Charleston  ;"  and  twice  on 
the  next  day  "  to  a  large  audience  in  Mr.  Osgood's 
meeting-house,  a  young  Independent  minister,"  at  Dor- 
chester ;  the  next  day  at  Dorchester  again,  and  at 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  143. 

Charleston  in  the  evening  ;  the  next  day  preached  and 
read  prayers  in  Christ's  church,  and  twice  at  Charles- 
ton the  next  day,  with  great  success.  And  now,  on 
July  llth,  a  citation  was  served  upon  him  to  appear 
on  the  fifteenth,  as  required  in  the  writ. 

On  the  12th,  he  preached  and  read  prayers  twice 
on  John's  island ;  and  on  the  13th,  which  was  the 
Sabbath,  he  again  listened  to  a  sermon  from  the  com- 
missary. Of  this  sermon  Whitefield  says, "  Had  some 
infernal  spirit  been' sent  to  draw  my  picture,  I  think 
it  scarcely  possible  .that  he  could  paint  me  in  more 
horrid  colors.  I  think,  if  ever,  then  was  the  time  that 
all  manner  of  evil  was  spoken  against  me  falsely  for 
Christ's  sake.  The  commissary  seemed  to  ransack 
church  history  for  instances  of  enthusiasm  and  abused 
grace.  He  drew  a  parallel  .between  me  and  all  the 
Oliverians,  Ranters,  Quakers,  French  prophets,  till  he 
came  down  to  a  family  of  Dutartes,  who  lived  not 
many  years  ago  in  South  Carolina,  and  were  guilty 
of  the  most  notorious  incests  and  murders." 

The  next  day  Whitefield  again  preached  twice  ; 
and  on  Tuesday  appeared  before  the  commissary,  ac- 
cording to  his  citation.  This  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  court  of  the  kind  ever  attempted  to  be  held 
in  any  of  the  colonies.  It  consisted  of  the  reverend 
commissary  A.  Garden,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Guy, 
Mellichamp,  Roe,  and  Orr,  who,  as  well  as  Whitefield 
himself,  and  his  able  advocate,  Mr.  Andrew  Rutledge, 
respectively  showed  their  want  of  familiarity  with 
such  business,  and,  after  a  series  of  blunders  on  both 
sides,  the  court  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  to  afford  Whitefield  time  to  ascertain  the 


144  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

4r 

extent  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  bishop  and  his  com- 
missary. How  little,  however,  he  studied  the  subject 
may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  he  preached  twice 
during  the  remainder  of  the  day.  The  next  day,  a 
Mr.  Graham  appeared  as  a  prosecuting  attorney,  and 
Mr.  Rutledge  as  counsel  for  the  respondent.  White- 
field  made  some  mistakes,  but  hints  from  his  quick- 
sighted  advocate  and  his  own  adroitness  saved  him 
from  their  consequences  ;  though  he  contrived  to  give 
the  court  a  lecture  on  the  meanness  of  catching  at  a 
word  as  soon  as  it  was  out  of  his  lips,  without  allow- 
ing him  time  to  correct  it.  He  now  filed  his  objec- 
tion against  being  judged  by  the  commissary,  who,  he 
alleged,  was  prejudiced  against  him.  This  gave  rise 
to  new  questions :  the  court  adjourned ;  and  the 
evangelist  went  to  James'  island,  read  prayers,  and 
preached.  The  next  day  he  again  appeared  in  court, 
and  found  that  his  exceptions  were  repelled,  and  that 
the  arbitrators  he  had  asked  for  would  not  be  ap- 
pointed. He  now  appealed  to  the  high  Court  of 
Chancery  in  London,  declaring  all  further  proceed- 
ings in  this  court  to  be  null  and  void.  He  then  re- 
tired and  read  letters  which  refreshed  his  spirit,  by 
informing  him  how  "  mightily  grew  the  word  of  God 
and  prevailed  "  at  Philadelphia ;  and  that  Mr.  Bol- 
ton,  in  Georgia,  had  nearly  fifty  negroes  learning  to 
read.  On  the  18th  he  preached  twice,  and  on  the 
19th  again  appeared  before  the  commissary,  and 
bound  himself,  in  a  penalty  of  ten  pounds,  to  prosecute 
his  appeal  in  London  within  twelve  months.  The 
appeal  was  never  tried,  as  the  ecclesiastical  author- 
ities allowed  it  to  die  of  neglect. 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  145 

"  The  court  being  ended,"  says  Whitefield,  in  his 
journal,  "  the  commissary  desired  to  speak  with  me. 
I  asked  him  to  my  lodgings.  He  chose  to  walk  on  a 
green  near  the  church.  His  spirit  was  somewhat 
calmer  than  usual ;  but  after  an  hour's  conversation, 
we  were  as  far  from  agreeing  as  before."  "  All  his 
discourse  was  so  inconsistent  and  contrary  to  the  gos- 
pel of  our  Lord,  that  I  was  obliged  to  tell  him  that  I 
believed  him  to  be  an  unconverted  man,  an  enemy  to 
God,  and  of  a  like  spirit  with  the  persecutor  Saul. 
At  this  he  smiled ;  and,  after  we  had  talked  a  long 
while,  we  parted,  and  God  gave  me  great  satisfaction 
that  I  had  delivered  my  soul  in  my  private  conversa- 
tion with  the  commissary." 

The  next  day,  July  20,  was  the  Sabbath.  The 
commissary  preached  in  his  usual  style,  and  White- 
field  preached  his  farewell  sermon  to  the  people  of 
Charleston.  By  his  recommendation  two  or  three  of 
the  dissenting  ministers  had  instituted  a  weekly  lec- 
ture ;  and  the  evangelist  "  advised  the  people,  as  the 
gospel  was  not  preached  in  church,  to  go  and  hear  it 
in  the  meeting-house."  On  leaving  the  city,  he  sum- 
med up,  in  his  journal,  the  results  of  his  labors  in  this 
manner : 

"  What  makes  the  change  more  remarkable  in  the 
Charleston  people  is,  that  they  seemed  to  me,  at  my 
first  coming,  to  be  a  people  wholly  devoted  to  pleas- 
ure. One  well  acquainted  with  their  manners  and 
circumstances,  told  me  more  had  been  spent  on  polite 
entertainments,  than  the  poor's-rate  came  to ;  but  now 
the  jewellers  and  dancing-masters  begin  to  cry  out 
that  their  craft  is  in  danger.  A  vast  alteration  is  dis- 


146  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

cernible  in  the  ladies'  dresses.  And  some,  while  I 
have  been  speaking,  have  been  so  convinced  of  the  sin 
of  wearing  jewels,  that  I  have  seen  them  with  blushes 
put  their  hands  to  their  ears,  and  cover  them  with 
their  fans.  But  I  hope  the  reformation  has  gone  far- 
ther than  externals.  Many  moral,  good  sort  of  men, 
who  before  were  settled  on  their  lees,  have  been  glo- 
riously awakened  to  seek  after  Jesus  Christ;  and 
many  a  Lydia's  heart  hath  been  opened  to  receive  the 
things  that  were  spoken.  Indeed,  the  word  came  like 
a  hammer  and  a  fire.  And  a  door,  I  believe,  will  be 
opened  for  teaching  the  poor  negroes.  Several  of 
them  have  done  their  usual  work  in  less  time,  that 
they  might  come  to  hear  me.  Many  of  their  owners, 
who  have  been  awakened,  resolved  to  teach  them 
Christianity.  Had  I  time,  and  proper  schoolmasters, 
I  might  immediately  erect  a  negro  school  in  South 
Carolina,  as  well  as  in  Pennsylvania.  Many  would 
willingly  contribute  both  money  and  land." 

The  Baptist  church  in  Charleston  at  this  time  was 
nearly  extinct,  being  reduced  to  five  or  six  communi- 
cants, but  Whitefield's  success  greatly  increased  their 
number,  and  it  thus  gained  strength  which  it  has  never 
lost.  It  is  also  gratefully  mentioned  even  now  by  the 
church  of  that  denomination  at  Eutaw,  that  Whitefield 
during  this  visit  to  South  Carolina  preached  the  dedi- 
cation-sermon of  their  house  of  worship. 

Whitefield  left  Charleston  on  July  21,  visiting  and 
preaching  on  his  way  homeward,  which  he  reached 
towards  the  close  of  the  same  week.  He  preached  on 
the  Sabbath  in  extreme  weakness  of  body,  but  "  with 
the  Holy  Ghost  from  above,"  and  several  were  hope- 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  147 

fully  converted  to  God.  On  tlie  18th  of  August,  he 
again  left  Savannah  for  Charleston,  where  he  was 
able,  for  want  of  bodily  strength,  to  preach  but  once 
a  day,  but  he  thought  that  his  sermons  were  attended 
with  more  power  and  success  than  ever  before.  In  a 
few  days  after,  having  preached  a  farewell  sermon  to 
four  thousand  hearers,  he  sailed  for  New  England, 
where  he  had  been  very  cordially  invited  by  leading 
ministers  and  others  in  Boston  and  many  other  places. 


H8  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
P 

WHITEFIELD'S  FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND. 
SEPTEMBER  TO  NOVEMBER,  1740. 

THE  religious  state  of  New  England  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  was  little  better  than 
the  description  we  have  already  given  of  the  state 
of  Great  Britain  and  its  other  dependencies  at  that 
period.  Dr.  Prince  tells  us,  that  the  first  age  of 
New  England  was  one  of  an  almost  continual  revival. 
Preaching  was  attended  with  so  much  power  in  some 
places,  "  that  it  was  a  common  inquiry,  by  such  mem- 
bers of  a  family  as  were  detained  at  home  on  a  Sab- 
bath, whether  any  had  been  visibly  awakened  in  the 
house  of  God  that  day."  And  he  adds,  "Few  Sab- 
baths did  pass  without  some  being  evidently  convert- 
ed, and  some  convincing  proof  of  the  power  of  God 
accompanying  his  word." 

Dr.  Increase  Mather,  writing  towards  the  close  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  while  he  confirms  the  state- 
ments we  have  already  given,  bears  farther  testimony 
which  is  of  a  very  painful  character.  He  says,  "  Pray- 
er is  necessary  on  this  account,  that  conversions  have 
become  rare  in  this  age  of  the  world.  They  that  have 
their  thoughts  exercised  in  discerning  things  of  this 
nature,  have  sad  apprehensions  that  the  work  of  con- 
version has  come  to  a  stand.  During  the  last  age 
scarcely  a  sermon  was  preached  without  some  being 
apparently  converted,  and  sometimes  hundreds  were 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  149 

converted  by  one  sermon.  Who  of  us  now  can  say 
that  we  have  seen  any  thing  such  as  this?  Clear, 
sound  conversions  are  not  frequent  in  our  congrega- 
tions ;  the  great  bulk  of  the  present  generation  are 
apparently  poor,  perishing,  and  if  the  Lord  prevent 
.not,  undone  ;  many  are  profane,  drunkards,  lascivious, 
scoifers  at  the  power  of  godliness,  and  disobedient  j 
others  are  civil  and  outwardly  conformed  to  good  or- 
der, because  so  educated,  but  without  knowing  aught 
of  a  real  change  of  heart."  The  same  estimable  writer 
says,  in  1721,  "  I  am  now  in  my  eighty-third  year,  and 
having  had  an  opportunity  of  conversing  with  the  first 
planters  of  this  country,  and  having  been  for  sixty-five 
years  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  I  feel  as  did  the  ancient 
men  who  had  seen  the  former  temple,  and  who  wept 
aloud  as  they  saw  the  latter.  The  children  of  New 
England  are,  or  once  were,  for  the  most  part,  the  chil- 
dren of  godly  parents.  What  did  our  fathers  come 
into  this  wilderness  for  ?  Not  to  gain  estates  as  men 
do  now,  but  for  religion,  and  that  they  might  have 
their  children  in  a  hopeful  way  of  being  truly  relig- 
ious. There  was  a  famous  man  who  preached  before 
one  of  the  greatest  assemblies  that  ever  was  address- 
ed ;  it  was  about  seventy  years  ago ;  and  he  said  to 
them,  '  I  lived  in  a  country  seven  years,  and  all  that 
time  I  never  heard  a  profane  oath,  or  saw  a  man 
drunk.'  And  where  was  that  country  ?  It  was  New 
England.  Ah,  degenerate  New  England !  What  art 
thou  come  to  at  this  day  ?  How  are  those  sins  become 
common  that  were  once  not  even  heard  of!" 

Passing  over,  for  the  present,  indications  of  a  re- 
vival of  religion,  which  had  appeared  in  other  parts 


150  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

of  the  country,  we  speak  now  only  of  New  England. 
In  1734,  a  very  extraordinary  work  of  grace  appeared 
at  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  under  the  ministry  of 
the  distinguished  Jonathan  Edwards,  the  elder,  the 
history  of  which  is  given  in  his  admirable  "  Narrative 
of  the  surprising  Work  of  God"  at  that  period,  in 
Northampton  and  the  vicinity. 

It  is  important  to  remark  here,  that  the  preaching 
which  led  to  such  delightful  results  was  of  the  most 
faithful  and  pungent  character.  We  will  give  one  in- 
stance, as  illustrative  of  many,  as  will  be  distinctly  seen 
by  those  who  have  read  EDWARDS'  sermon,  "  Sinners  in 
the  hands  of  an  angry  God"  or  his  "  Justice  of  God  in  the 
damnation  of  Sinners."  Perhaps,  however,  no  sermon 
in  New  England  has  ever  acquired  greater  celebrity, 
or  accomplished  more  good,  than  the  one  preached 
by  President  Edwards  at  Enfield,  July  8,  1741, .from 
the  words,  "  Their  feet  shall  slide  in  due  time."  Deut. 
32  : 35.  "  When  they  went  into  the  meeting-house, 
the  appearance  of  the  assembly  was  thoughtless  and 
vain  j  the  people  scarcely  conducted  themselves  with 
common  decency."  But  as  the  sermon  proceeded,  the 
audience  became  so  overwhelmed  with  distress  and 
weeping,  that  the  preacher  was  "  obliged  to  speak  to 
the  people  and  desire  silence,  that  he  might  be  heard." 
The  excitement  soon  became  intense  ;  and  it  is  said 
that  a  minister  who  sat  in  the  pulpit  with  Mr.  Ed- 
wards, in  the  agitation  of  his  feelings,  caught  the 
preacher  by  the  skirt  of  his  dress,  and  said,  "Mr. 
Edwards,  Mr.  Edwards,  is  not  God  a  God  of  mercy?" 
Many  of  the  hearers  were  seen  unconsciously  holding 
themselves  up  against  the  pillars,  and  the  sides  of  the 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  151 

pews,  as  though  they  already  felt  themselves  sliding 
into  the  pit.  This  fact  has  often  been  mentioned  as 
a  proof  of  the  strong  and  scriptural  character  of  Presi- 
dent Edwards'  peculiar  eloquence — the  eloquence  of 
truth  as  attended  by  influence  from  heaven;  for  his 
sermons  were  read,  without  gestures. 

But  there  was  another  element  which  must  be 
taken  into  Recount  when  we  look  at  the  result  of  this 
sermon,  as  well  as  others  delivered  in  like  circum- 
stances, and  one  which  we  fear  has  been  often  over- 
looked. "  While  the  people  of  the  neighboring  towns 
were  in  great  distress  about  their  souls,  the  inhabitants 
of  Enfield  were  very  secure,  loose,  and  vain.  A  lec- 
ture had  been  appointed  there,  and  the  neighboring 
people  were  so  affected  at  the  thoughtlessness  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  had  so  much  fear  that  God  would,  in 
his  righteous  judgment,  pass  them  by,  that  many  of 
them  were  prostrate  before  him  a  considerable  part 
of  the  previous  evening,  supplicating  the  mercy  of 
heaven  in  their  behalf.  And  when  the  time  appointed 
for  the  lecture  came,  a  number  of  the  surrounding 
ministers  were  present,  as  well  as  some  from  a  dis- 
tance " — a  proof  of  the  prayerful  interest  felt  on  be- 
half of  the  town.  In  all  this  we  see  much  of  the 
secret  of  the  powerful  impression  produced  by  that 
sermon,  and  are  taught  that  in  seasons  when  God 
seems  about  to  pour  out  his  Spirit  on  a  community, 
Christians  should  be  found  "  continuing  instant  in 
prayer." 

In  this  more  hopeful  state  of  things  than  had  long 
before  existed  in  New  England,  Whitefield,  who  was 
now  the  second  time  in  America,  was  most  urgently 


152  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

entreated  to  visit  the  descendants  of  the  Pilgrim  fa- 
thers. He  complied  with  the  request,  and  arrived  at 
Newport  on  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath,  September 
14,  1740.  We  furnish  an  account,  written  chiefly  by 
himself,  in  his  journal,  published  in  London,  1741,  a 
copy  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  library  of  Harvard 
University,  to  which  we  have  had  a  kind  access,  and 
which  is  rich  in  what  we  may  term  Whitffieldian  lore. 
He  writes, 

"  Was  sick  part  of  the  passage,  but  found  after- 
wards the  sea-air,  under  God,  much  improved  my 
health.  Arrived  at  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  just 
after  the  beginning  of  evening  service.  We  came 
purposely  thither  first  with  our  sloop.  I  think  it  the 
most  pleasant  entrance  I  ever  yet  saw.  Almost  all 
the  morning  the  wind  was  contrary ;  but  I  found  a 
very  strong  inclination  to  pray  that  we  might  arrive 
time  enough  to  be  present  at  public  worship.  Once  I 
called  the  people ;  but  something  prevented  their  com- 
ing. At  last,  finding  my  impression  increase  upon  me, 
I  desired  their  attendance  immediately.  They  came. 
With  a  strong  assurance  that  we  should  be  heard,  we 
prayed  that  the  Lord  would  turn  the  wind,  that  we 
might  give  him  thanks  in  the  great  congregation; 
and  also  that  he  would  send  such  to  us  as  he  would 
have  us  to  converse  with,  and  who  might  show  us  a 
lodging.  Though  the  wind  was  ahead  when  we  be- 
gan, when  we  had  done  praying,  and  came  up  out  of 
the  cabin,  it  was  quite  fair. 

"With  a  gentle  gale  we  sailed  most  pleasantly 
into  the  harbor ;  got  into  public  worship  before  they 
had  finished  the  psalms ;  and  sat,  as  I  thought,  undis- 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  153 

covered.  After  service  was  over,  a  gentleman  asked 
me  whether  my  name  was  not  Whitefield.  I  told 
him  '  yes  ;'  he  then  desired  me  to  go  to  his  house,  and 
he  would  take  care  to  provide  lodgings  and  necessa- 
ries for  me  and  my  friends.  I  went,  silently  admir- 
ing God's  goodness  in  answering  my  prayer  so  mi- 
nutely. Several  gentlemen  of  the  town  soon  came  to 
pay  their  respects  to  me,  among  whom  was  one  Mr. 
Clap,  an  aged  dissenting  minister,  but  the  most  vener- 
able man  I  ever  saw.  He  looked  like  a  good  old 
Puritan,  and  gave  me  an  idea  of  what  stamp  those  men 
were  who  first  settled  New  England.  His  counte- 
nance was  very  heavenly ;  he  rejoiced  much  in  spirit 
at  the  sight  of  me,  and  prayed  most  affectionately  for 
a  blessing  on  my  coming  to  Rhode  Island." 

In  the  evening,  in  company  with  Mr.  Clap  and 
other  friends,  Whitefield  visited  Mr.  Honeyman,  the 
minister  of  the  church  of  England,  and  requested  the 
use  of  his  pulpit.  "  At  first  he  seemed  a  little  unwill- 
ing, being  desirous  to  know  '  what  extraordinary  call 
I  had  to  preach  on  week-days/  which  he  said  was 
disorderly.  I  answered,  '  St.  Paul  exhorted  Timothy 
to  '  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season  ;'  that  if  the 
orders  of  the  church  were  rightly  complied  with,  our 
ministers  should  read  public  prayers  twice  every  day, 
and  then  it  would  not  be  disorderly  at  such  times  to 
give  them  a  sermon.  As  to  an  extraordinary  call,  I 
claimed  none  otherwise  than  upon  the  apostle's  injunc- 
tion, '  As  we  have  opportunity,  let  us  do  good  unto  all 
men.'  He  still  held  out,  and  did  not  give  any  positive 
answer  ;  but  at  last,  after  he  had  withdrawn  and  con- 
sulted with  the  gentlemen,  he  said,  '  If  my  preaching 
7* 


154  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

would  promote  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of 
souls,  I  was  welcome  to  his  church  as  often  as  I 
would,  during  my  stay  in  town.'  We  then  agreed  to 
make  use  of  it  at  ten  in  the  morning,  and  three  in  the 
afternoon.  After  this,  I  went  to  wait  on  the  governor, 
who  seemed  to  be  a  very  plain  man,  and  had  a  very 
plain  house,  which  much  pleased  me.  By  profession, 
I  think  he  is  a  Seventh-day  Baptist ;  he  is  a  man  of 
good  report  as  to  his  conduct  and  dealing  with  the 
world."  As  might  have  been  expected,  the  evening 
was  spent  in  exposition  and  prayer,  with  a  crowded 
company,  in  the  house  of  his  friend  Bowers,  the  gen- 
tleman who  first  addressed  him  when  coming  out  of 
church. 

On  Monday  morning,  he  breakfasted  with  "old 
Mr.  Clap,  and  was  much  edified  by  his  conversation." 
Of  this  venerable  servant  of  Christ  he  says,  "  I  could 
not  but  think,  while  at  his  table,  that  I  was  sitting 
with  one  of  the  patriarchs.  He  is  full  of  days,  a 
bachelor,  and  has  been  minister  of  a  congregation  in 
Rhode  Island  upwards  of  forty  years.  People  of  all 
denominations,  I  find,  respect  him.  He  abounds  in 
good  works,  gives  all  away,  and  is  wonderfully  tender 
of  little  children ;  many  of  different  persuasions  come 
to  be  instructed  by  him.  Whenever  he  dies,  I  am 
persuaded,  with  good  old  Simeon,  he  will  be  enabled 
to  say,  '  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace.' "  Whitefield  preached,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, morning  and  afternoon,  "  in  the  church.  It  is 
very  commodious,  and  I  believe  will  contain  three 
thousand  people.  It  was  more  than  filled  in  the  after- 
noon. Persons  of  all  denominations  attended.  God 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  155 

assisted  me  much.  I  observed  numbers  affected,  and 
had  great  reason  to  believe  the  word  of  the  Lord  had 
been  '  sharper  than  a  twoedged  sword/  in  some  of  the 
hearers'  souls." 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  he  received  the 
following  note : 

REVEREND  SIR  AND  BELOVED  BROTHER — Although 
mine  eyes  never  saw  your  face  before  this  day,  yet  my 
heart  and  soul  have  been  united  to  you  in  love,  by 
the  bond  of  the  Spirit.  I  have  longed  and  expected 
to  see  you  for  many  months  past.  Blessed  be  God, 
mine  eyes  have  seen  the  joyful  day.  I  trust,  through 
grace,  I  have  some  things  to  communicate  to  you  that 
will  make  your  heart  glad.  I  shall  omit  writing  any 
thing,  and  only  hereby  present  my  hearty  love,  and 
let  you  know  that  I  am  waiting  now  at  the  post  of 
your  door  for  admission.  Though  I  am  unworthy, 
my  Lord  is  worthy,  in  whose  name,  I  trust,  I  come.  I 
am  your  unworthy  brother, 

"JONATHAN  BARBER." 

"  On  reading  it,"  says  Whitefield,  "  I  could  not  but 
think  this  was  one  of  those  young  ministers  whom 
God  had  lately  made  use  of  in  such  a  remarkable 
manner,  at  the  east  end  of  Long  Island.  I  sent  for 
him,  and  found  he  was  the  man.  My  heart  rejoiced. 
We  walked  out,  and  took  sweet  counsel  together ;  and 
among  other  things,  he  told  me  that  he  came  to 
llhode  Island  under  a  full  conviction  that  he  should 
see  me  there,  and  had  been  waiting  for  me  about  a 
week.  .  .  .  What  rendered  this  more  remarkable  was, 
I  had  no  intention  of  sailing  to  Rhode  Island  till 


156  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

about  three  days  before  I  left  Carolina ;  and  I  had  a 
great  desire  to  put  in,  if  I  could,  at  the  east  end  of 
Long  Island,  to  see  this  very  person,  whom  the  great 
God  now  brought  unto  me.  Lord,  accept  our  thanks, 
sanctify  our  meeting,  and  teach  us  both  what  we  shall 
do  for  thine  own  name's  sake.  In  the  evening  I  went 
to  the  venerable  Mr.  Clap's,  and  exhorted  and  prayed 
with  a  great  multitude,  who  not  only  crowded  into  the 
house,  but  thronged  every  way  about  it.  The  dear 
old  man  rejoiced  to  see  the  things  which  he  saw ;  and 
after  my  exhortation  was  over,  dismissed  me  with  his 
blessing." 

Tuesday,  we  scarcely  need  remark,  was  spent  by 
Whitefield  in  the  work  of  his  great  Master.  He 
preached  to  a  vast  congregation,  including  the  mem- 
bers of  the  House  of  Assembly,  who  adjourned  to 
attend  the  service;  and  he  had  very  delightful  evi- 
dence that  his  labors  had  already  been  useful.  On 
Wednesday  he  left  Newport,  and  about  noon  preached 
at  Bristol,  at  the  request  of  the  court,  which  was  then 
in  session,  and  slept  that  night  at  a  hotel  on  the  road 
to  Boston.  On  Thursday  morning  he  set  out  early, 
and  as  he  passed  on  with  his  friends,  he  says,  "Found 
that  the  people  were  apprized  of  my  coming,  and  were 
solicitous  for  my  preaching  ;  but  being  resolved  under 
God,  if  possible,  to  reach  Boston,  we  travelled  on  for 
near  fifty  miles,  and  came  to  Boston  about  eight  in  the 
evening.  When  we  were  within  four  miles  of  the 
city,  the  governor's  son,  several  other  gentlemen,  and 
one  or  two  ministers,  waited  at  a  gentleman's  house 
to  give  me  the  meeting.  They  received  me  with  great 
gladness,  and  told  me  many  more  would  have  come3 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  157 

had  not  a  large  funeral  been  in  the  town,  or  if  there 
had  been  more  certain  notice  of  my  arriving.  This 
rejoiced  me ;  for  I  think  I  can  stand  any  thing  better 
than  this.  It  savors  too  much  of  human  grandeur. 
But  I  must  be  tried  every  way;  the  Lord  be  my 
helper.  After  stopping  a  while,  we  went  together  to 
Boston,  to  the  house  of  one  Mr.  Sandiford,  brother-in- 
law  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colman,  who  long  since  had 
sent  me  an  invitation.  .  .  .  My  heart  was  but  low,  and 
my  body  weak ;  but,  at  the  request  of  one  of  the  min- 
isters, I  gave  thanks  to  our  gracious  God  for  bringing 
me  in  safety,  and  prayed  that  my  coming  might  be  in 
the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  peace." 

He  slept  well  that  night,  and  the  next  morning,  he 
says,  "  I  perceived  fresh  emanations  of  divine  light 
break  in  upon  and  refresh  my  soul."  He  was  visited 
by  several  gentlemen,  including  Josiah  Willard,  Esq., 
the  secretary  of  the  province,  a  man  who  feared  God, 
and  with  whom  Whitefield  had  for  some  time  been  in 
correspondence.  The  governor,  Belcher,  received  him 
with  the  utmost  respect,  and  requested  frequent  visits. 
He  attended  public  worship  at  the  church  of  England, 
and  waited  on  the  commissary  home,  who  received 
him  very  courteously.  As  it  was  a  day  on  which  the 
clergy  of  that  body  had  a  meeting,  he  came  into  the 
company  of  five  of  them  assembled  together.  They 
soon  attacked  him  "for  calling  that  Tennent  and  his 
brethren  faithful  ministers  of  Christ."  He  answered, 
that  he  believed  they  were  so.  They  questioned  the  va- 
lidity of  Presbyterian  ordination,  and  quoted  from  his 
journal  his  own  words  against  him.  He  replied,  that 
perhaps  his  sentiments  were  altered.  They  then  went 


158  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

into  a  doctrinal  discussion,  which  continued  till  White- 
field,  finding  how  inconsistent  they  were,  took  his 
leave,  resolving  that  they  should  not  have  the  oppor- 
tunity of  denying  him  their  pulpits.  However,  they 
treated  him,  on  the  whole,  with  more  courtesy  than 
he  had  lately  been  accustomed  to  receive  from  the 
ministers  of  his  own  church. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  he  preached  to 
a  vast  congregation  in  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colman's  meeting- 
house, in  Brattle-street,  and  in  the  evening  exhorted 
and  prayed  with  such  as  came  to  his  lodgings.  On 
Saturday,  in  the  forenoon,  he  discoursed  to  a  crowded 
audience  at  the  Old  South  church,  where  Dr.  Sewall 
was  pastor,  the  only  church  edifice  in  Boston  with 
which  Whitefield  was  connected  which  is  still  stand- 
ing as  it  then  was.  In  the  afternoon  he  preached  on 
the  Common  to  about  eight  thousand  persons,  and  at 
night  to  a  thronged  company  at  his  own  lodgings. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  which  was  the 
Sabbath,  he  heard  Dr.  Colman  preach ;  in  the  after- 
noon, he  preached  at  Mr.  Foxcroft's  meeting-house  to 
a  vast  auditory.  This  gentleman  was  the  senior  pas- 
tor of  the  First  church,  meeting  in  Chauncy- place,  and 
the  Rev.  Charles  Chauncy  was  his  colleague.  The 
church  edifice  was  in  Cornhill-square,  not  far  from 
the  old  state-house,  and  was  usually  called  the  "  Old 
Brick  meeting."  As  this  house  was  by  far  too  small 
to  contain  his  auditory,  he  almost  immediately  after- 
wards preached  on  the  Common,  to  about  fifteen  thou- 
sand hearers ;  and  again  at  night  at  his  lodgings. 
He  says,  "  Some  afterwards  came  into  my  room.  I 
felt  much  of  the  divine  presence  in  my  own  soul,  and 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  159 

though  hoarse  was  enabled  to  speak  with  much  power, 
and  could  have  spoke,  I  believe,  till  midnight." 

On  Monday  morning,  Whitefield  preached  at  Mr. 
Webb's  meeting-house,  the  "  New  North,"  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Clark  and  Hanover  streets.  "  The  presence  of 
the  Lord,"  he  says,  "  was  among  us.  Look  where  I 
would  around  me,  visible  impressions  were  made  upon 
the  auditory.  Most  wept  for  a  considerable  time." 
In  the  afternoon  he  meant  to  have  preached  at  Mr. 
Checkley's,  in  Summer-street,  but  was  prevented  by 
an  accident.  Just  before  the  time  for  the  commence- 
ment of  the  service,  a  person  broke  a  board  in  one  of 
the  galleries,  of  which  to  make  a  seat ;  the  noise 
alarmed  some  who  heard  it,  and  they  imprudently 
cried  out  that  the  galleries  were  giving  way.  The 
house  being  much  crowded,  the  whole  congregation 
were  thrown  into  the  utmost  alarm  and  disorder  ; 
some  jumped  from  the  gallery  into  the  seats  below, 
others  fell  from  the  windows,  and  those  below  press- 
ing to  get  out  of  the  porch,  were  many  of  them  thrown 
over  each  other  and  trodden  upon.  Many,  as  might 
be  expected,  were  seriously  bruised ;  others  had  bones 
broken;  and  within  two  days  five  persons  died  from 
the  injuries  they  had  received.  Mr.  Whitefield's  pres- 
ence of  mind  did  not  fail  him;  he  immediately  led 
the  anxious  throng  to  the  Common,  and  preached  to 
them  from  the  text,  "  Go  ye  out  into  the  highways 
and  hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in."  He  says, 
"  The  weather  was  wet,  but  above  eight  thousand  fol- 
lowed into  the  fields." 

On  Tuesday  morning,  Whitefield  visited  Mr.  Wal- 
ter, at  Roxbury.  This  gentleman  had  been  the  col- 


160  GEORGE  WHITEPIELD. 

league,  and  was  now  the  successor  of  John  Eliot, 
"  the  apostle  of  the  Indians."  These  two  men  had 
been  pastors  of  that  church  one  hundred  and  six  years. 
Whitefield  was  much  pleased  with  Walter,  who,  in 
return,  was  glad  to  hear  that  he,  like  old  Bishop  Bev- 
eridge,  called  man  "  half  a  devil  and  half  a  beast." 
He  preached  that  forenoon  at  Mr.  Gee's  meeting- 
house, the  "  Old  North,"  of  which  church  the  celebrat- 
ed Dr.  Cotton  Mather  had  formerly  been  pastor.  The 
house  stood  in  the  North  square,  and  was  taken  down 
by  the  British  army  and  burned  for  fuel  at  the  siege 
of  Boston,  in  1776.  The  auditory  Whitefield  preach- 
ed to  that  morning  was  not  very  crowded,  as  the  peo- 
ple were  in  doubt  where  he  would  preach.  After 
dining  with  the  secretary  of  the  province,  he  says,  "  I 
preached  in  the  afternoon  at  Dr.  Sewall's  to  a  thronged 
congregation,  and  exhorted  and  prayed  as  usual  at 
my  own  lodgings ;  at  neither  place  without  some  man- 
ifestations of  a  divine  power  accompanying  the  word." 
Wednesday  was  not  lost.  Whitefield  himself  shall 
describe  its  proceedings.  "Went  this  morning  to  see 
and  preach  at  Cambridge,  the  chief  college  for  train- 
ing up  the  sons  of  the  prophets  in  all  New  England. 
It  has  one  president,  I  think  four  tutors,  and  about  a 
hundred  students.  It  is  scarce  as  big  as  one  of  our 
least  colleges  in  Oxford,  and  as  far  as  I  could  gather 
from  some  who  well  knew  the  state  of  it,  not  far  su- 
perior to  our  universities  in  piety  and  true  godliness. 
Tutors  neglect  to  pray  with,  and  examine  the  hearts 
of  their  pupils.  Discipline  is  at  too  low  an  ebb.  Bad 
books  are  become  fashionable.  Tillotson  and  Clarke 
are  read  instead  of  Sheppard,  Stoddard,  and  such  like 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  161 

evangelical  writers ;  and  therefore  I  chose  to  preach 
on  these  words  :  '  We  are  not  as  many,  who  corrupt  the 
word  of  God  ;'  and  in  the  conclusion  of  my  sermon  I 
made  a  close  application  to  tutors  and  students.  A 
great  number  of  neighboring  ministers  attended,  as 
indeed  they  do  at  all  other  times,  and  God  gave  me 
great  boldness  and  freedom  of  speech.  The  president 
of  the  college  and  minister  of  the  parish  treated  me 
very  civilly.  In  the  afternoon  I  preached  again  in 
the  court,  without  any  particular  application  to  the 
students.  I  believe  there  were  about  seven  thousand 
hearers.  The  Holy  Spirit  melted  many  hearts.  The 
word  was  attended  with  a  manifest  power;  and  a 
minister  soon  after  wrote  me  word,  that  '  he  believed 
one  of  his  daughters  was  savingly  wrought  upon  at  that 
tiwe.'  Paid  my  respects  to  the  lieutenant-governor,  who 
lives  at  Cambridge,  and  returned  in  the  evening  to  Bos- 
ton, and  prayed  with  and  exhorted  many  people  who 
were  waiting  round  the  door  for  a  spiritual  morsel. 
I  believe  our  Lord  did  not  send  them  empty  away." 

An  elm  under  which  Whitefield  preached  in  Cam- 
bridge became  distinguished  ;  it  being  under  its  shade 
that  Washington,  thirty-one  years  after,  first  drew  his 
sword  in  the  cause  of  the  Revolution,  on  taking  the 
command  of  the  American  army.  From  this  circum- 
stance, it  has  been  called  the  "  Washington  elm."  The 
last  time  the  late  distinguished  Dr.  Holyoke,  of  Salem, 
Mass.,  was  in  Cambridge,  then  nearly  a  hundred  years 
old,  while  passing  this  tree  with  a  friend,  he  said  that 
he  heard  Whitefield's  sermon,  being  at  the  time  a  stu- 
dent in  college. 

On  Thursday  he  preached  the  weekly  lecture  at 


162  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Mr.  Foxcroft's,  the  First  church.  But  he  says,  "I 
was  so  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  my  base  ingratitude 
to  my  dearest  Saviour,  that  Satan  would  fain  have 
tempted  me  to  hold  my  tongue,  and  not  invite  poor 
sinners  to  Jesus  Christ,  because  I  was  so  great  a  sin- 
ner myself.  But  God  enabled  me  to  withstand  the 
temptation,  and  since  Jesus  Christ  had  shown  such 
mercy  to,  and  had  not  withdrawn  his  Holy  Spirit  from 
me,  the  chief  of  sinners,  I  was  enabled  more  feelingly 
to  talk  of  his  love;  and  afterwards  found  that  one 
stranger,  in  particular,  was  in  all  probability  effectu- 
ally convinced  by  that  morning's  sermon.  After  pub- 
lic worship,  I  went,  at  his  excellency's  invitation,  and 
dined  with  the  governor.  Most  of  the  ministers  of 
the  town  were  invited  with  me.  Before  dinner,  the 
governor  sent  for  me  up  into  his  chamber.  He  wept, 
wished  me  '  good  luck  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,'  and 
recommended  himself,  ministers,  and  people  to  my 
prayers.  Immediately  after  dinner,  I  prayed  explic- 
itly for  them  all,  and  went  in  his  coach  to  the  end  of 
the  town ;  but  had  such  a  sense  of  my  vileness  upon 
my  soul,  that  I  wondered  people  did  not  stone  me. 
Crossed  a  ferry,  and  preached  at  Charlestown,  a  town 
lying  on  the  north  side  of  Boston.  The  meeting-house 
was  very  capacious,  and  quite  filled.  A  gracious  melt- 
ing was  discernible  through  the  whole  congregation, 
and  I  perceived  much  freedom  and  sweetness  in  my 
own  soul,  though  the  damp  I  felt  in  the  morning  was 
not  quite  gone  off.  In  the  evening  I  exhorted  and 
prayed  as  usual  at  my  lodgings  ;  and  blessed  be  God, 
I  found  a  great  alteration  in  my  hearers.  They  now 
began  to  melt  and  weep  under  the  word." 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  163 

• 

On  Friday,  the  following  day,  he  preached  in  the 
morning  at  Roxbury,  from  a  little  ascent,  to  many 
thousands  of  people,  with  much  of  the  divine  presence. 
Several  came  to  him  afterwards,  telling  him  how  they 
were  struck  with  the  word.  Having  dined  with  Judge 
Dudley,  he  preached  to  a  still  larger  congregation 
from  a  scaffold  erected  outside  Mr.  Byles'  meeting- 
house in  Hollis-street.  Wrote  to  several  friends  in. 
England  ;  gave  a  short  exhortation  to  a  large  crowd 
of  hearers  ;  and  then  spent  the  evening  with  several 
ministers  in  edifying  conversation,  singing,  and  prayer. 

Saturday,  he  preached  in  the  morning  at  Mr.  Wei- 
steed's  meeting-house,  and  in  the  afternoon  to  about 
fifteen  thousand  people  on  the  Common.  "But  Oh, 
how  did  the  word  run!  It  rejoiced  me  to  see  such 
numbers  greatly  affected,  so  that  some,  I  believe,  could 
scarcely  abstain  from  crying  out.  That  place  was  no 
other  than  a  Bethel,  and  a  gate  of  heaven."  After 
he  had  gone  home  to  his  lodgings  he  says,  "  The  power 
and  presence  of  the  Lord  accompanied  and  followed 
me.  Many  now  wept  bitterly,  and  cried  out  under 
the  word  like  persons  that  were  really  hungering  and 
thirsting  after  righteousness;  and  after  I  left  them, 
God  gave  me  to  wrestle  with  him  in  my  chamber,  in 
behalf  of  some  dear  friends  then  present,  and  others 
that  were  absent  from  us.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
was  upon  them  all.  It  made  intercession  with  groan- 
ings  that  cannot  be  uttered." 

On  the  day  -following,  being  the  Sabbath,  in  the 
morning  he  preached  at  the  Old  South  church,  Dr. 
Sewall's,  to  a  very  crowded  auditory, "  with  almost  as 
much  power  and  visible  appearance  of  God  as  yester- 


164  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

day.  Collected  X555  currency  for  my  little  lambs ; 
was  taken  very  ill  after  dinner  ;  vomited  violently, 
but  was  enabled  to  preach  at  Dr.  Colman's  in  the 
afternoon  to  as  great,  if  not  a  greater  congregation 
than  in  the  morning.  Here  also  <£470  were  collected 
for  the  orphan-house  in  Georgia.  In  both  places  all 
things  were  carried  on  with  decency  and  order.  Peo- 
ple went  slowly  out,  as  though  they  had  not  a  mind 
to  escape  giving ;  and  Dr.  Colman  said  '  it  was  the 
most  pleasant  time  he  ever  enjoyed  in  that  meeting- 
house through  the  whole  course  of  his  life.'  Blessed 
be  God,  after  sermon  I  perceived  myself  somewhat 
refreshed.  Supped  very  early.  Had  the  honor  of  a 
private  visit  from  the  governor,  who  came  full  of  affec- 
tion to  take  his  leave  of  me  for  the  present.  Went, 
at  their  request,  and  preached  to  a  great  company  of 
negroes,  on  the  conversion  of  the  Ethiopian,  Acts  the 
eighth  ;  at  which  the  poor  creatures,  as  well  as  many 
white  people,  were  much  affected ;  and  at  my  return, 
gave  an  exhortation  to  a  crowd  of  people  who  were 
waiting  at  my  lodgings.  My  animal  spirits  were 
almost  exhausted,  and  my  legs,  through  expense  of 
sweating  and  vomiting,  almost  ready  to  sink  under 
me  ;  but  the  Lord  visited  my  soul,  and  I  went  to  bed 
greatly  refreshed  with  divine  consolations."  Even  at 
this  early  period  such  sufferings  of  his  bodily  system 
frequently  followed  his  herculean  labors. 

Early  on  Monday  morning,  Sept.  29,  Whitefield 
left  Boston  on  an  excursion  to  the  eastward.  At 
Marblehead,  he  "preached  to  some  thousands  in  a 
broad  place  in  the  middle  of  the  town,  but  not  with 
much  apparent  effect."  At  Salem,  he  "preached  to 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  165 

about  seven  thousand  people.  Here  the  Lord  mani- 
fested forth  his  glory.  One  man  was,  I  believe,  struck 
down  by  the  power  of  the  word.  In  every  part  of  the 
congregation,  persons  might  be  seen  under  great  con- 
cern." He  went  on  to  Ipswich,  where  he  was  kindly 
"  entertained  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Rogers,  one  of  the 
ministers  of  the  place."  Of  this  family  our  evangelist 
was  soon  to  know  more  than  he  had  hitherto  done. 
At  about  this  period,  John  Rogers,  aged  77,  and 
Nathanael  Rogers,  were  joint  pastors  of  the  First 
church  at  Ipswich ;  both  of  them  were  ardent  pro- 
moters of  the  revival,  as  was  also  Daniel  Rogers,  of 
the  same  family.  Whitefield  learned  with  deep  inter- 
est that  his  host  was  a  descendant  of  the  celebrated 
martyr,  John  Rogers.  The  next  day  he  preached 
there  to  some  thousands.  "  The  Lord,"  says  he,  "gave 
me  freedom,  and  there  was  a  great  melting  in  the  con- 
gregation." At  Newbury,  in  the  afternoon,  the  Lord 
accompanied  the  word  with  power.  The  meeting- 
house was  very  large,  many  ministers  were  present, 
and  the  people  were  greatly  affected.  Blessed  be 
God,  his  divine  power  attends  us  more  and  more." 
Wednesday,  he  preached  at  Hampton,  in  the  open  air, 
to  some  thousands.  He  was  here  very  highly  grati- 
fied with  the  conversation  of  Mr.  Colton,  the  minister, 
and  with  the  Christian  simplicity  of  his  excellent 
wife.  The  high  wind  prevented  his  being  heard  so 
well  as  he  usually  was,  and  he  did  not  enjoy  his  accus- 
tomed freedom  ;  still,  "  some,  though  not  many,  were 
affected."  At  Portsmouth,  he  "  preached  to  a  polite 
auditory,  but  so  very  unconcerned,  that  I  began  to 
question  whether  I  had  been  speaking  to  rational  or 


166  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

brute  creatures.  Seeing  no  immediate  effects  of  the 
word  preached,  I  was  a  little  dejected  ;  but  God,  to 
comfort  my  heart,  sent  one  young  man,  crying  out  in 
great  anguish  of  spirit, '  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?' " 

From  Portsmouth,  our  evangelist  proceeded  to 
York,  in  Maine,  "  to  see  one  Mr.  Moody,  a  worthy, 
plain,  and  powerful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  though 
now  much  impaired  by  old  age.  He  has  lived  by 
faith  for  many  years,  would  have  no  settled  salary, 
and  has  been  much  despised  by  bad  men,  and  as  much 
respected  by  the  true  lovers  of  the  blessed  Jesus." 
The  next  morning  he  was  much  comforted  to  hear, 
from  Mr.  Moody,  that  he  would  preach  that  morning 
to  a  hundred  new  creatures ;  "  and  indeed,"  says  he, 
"  I  believe  I  did  ;  for  when  I  came  to  preach,  I  could 
speak  little  or  no  terror,  but  most  consolation."  He 
preached  morning  and  evening.  "  The  hearers  looked 
plain  and  simple,  and  the  tears  trickled  apace  down 
most  of  their  cheeks."  He  returned  to  Portsmouth 
that  night,  and  the  next  morning  preached  to  a  far 
greater  congregation,  and  with  much  better  effect  than 
before.  "  Instead  of  preaching  to  dead  stocks,  I  now 
had  reason  to  believe  I  was  preaching  to  living  men. 
People  began  to  melt  soon  after  I  began  to  pray ; 
and  the  power  increased  more  and  more  during  the 
whole  sermon."  This  was  still  more  clearly  evinced 
after  Mr.  Whitefield's  departure  from  the  town. 

Returning  to  Boston,  through  Salem,  Marblehead, 
and  Maiden,  in  each  of  which  places  he  preached,  and 
•being  now  in  improved  health,  he  preached,  October  7, 
both  morning  and  evening,  "with  much  power,"  at 
Brattle-street.  There  had  been  for  several  days  a 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  167 

report  in  circulation,  that  he  had  died  suddenly,  or 
was  poisoned,  and  the  people  greatly  rejoiced  again 
to  see  him  alive.  At  Mr.  Webb's,  the  New  North 
church,  on  the  following  Wednesday,  he  thought  there 
was  more  of  the  presence  of  God  through  the  whole 
ministration,  than  he  had  before  known  at  one  time 
in  the  course  of  his  life.  He  went  there  with  the 
governor,  in  his  coach,  and  preached  morning  and 
evening.  "  Jesus  Christ  manifested  forth  his  glory  ; 
many  hearts  melted  within  them ;  and  I  think  I  was 
never  drawn  out  to  pray  for  and  invite  little  children 
to  Jesus  Christ,  as  I  was  this  morning.  A  little  be- 
fore, I  had  heard  of  a  child  who  was  taken  sick  just 
after  it  had  heard  me  preach,  and  said  he  would  go 
to  Mr.  Whitefield's  God,  and  died  in  a  short  time. 
This  encouraged  me  to  speak  to  the  little  ones.  But 
0,  how  were  the  old  people  affected  when  I  said,  'Lit- 
tle children,  if  your  parents  will  not  come  to  Christ, 
do  you  come,  and  go  to  heaven  without  them.'  There 
seemed  to  be  but  few  dry  eyes,  look  where  I  would. 
I  have  not  seen  a  greater  commotion  since  my  preach- 
ing at  Boston.  Glory  be  to  God,  who  has  not  for- 
gotten to  be  gracious."  He  collected,  after  this  ser- 
mon, £440  for  his  orphan-house,  which  was  now  more 
generally  supported  than  ever  before. 

The  interesting  fact  we  have  just  related  of  the 
impression  produced  on  the  mind  of  a  little  child  by 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  may  afford  the  oppor- 
tunity to  introduce  one  or  two  other  facts  bearing  on 
the  same  general  topic,  and  suggesting  some  practical 

sons. 

Whitefield  could  indeed  descend  to  talk  with  chil- 


168  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

dren.  Here  is  a  specimen  which  at  once  impresses  us 
with  a  lively  idea  of  his  spirit,  and  of  the  adaptation 
of  the  religion  of  Jesus  to  the  young  as  well  as  the 
old.  A  little  girl  seven  years  of  age,  when  on  her 
death-bed,  desired  an  interview  with  him ;  he  came,  and 
thus  they  conversed : 

WHITEFIELD.  For  what  purpose,  my  dear  child, 
have  you  sent  for  me  ? 

GIRL.  I  think  I  am  dying,  and  I  wished  very 
much  to  see  you. 

WHITEFIELD.     What  can  I  do  for  you  ? 

GIRL.  You  can  tell  me  about  Christ,  and  pray 
for  me. 

WHITEFIELD.  My  dear  girl,  what  do  you  know 
about  Christ? 

GIRL.    I  know  he  is  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 

WHITEFIELD.    My  dear  child,  he  is  so. 

GIRL.     I  hope  he  will  be  my  Saviour  also. 

WHITEFIELD.  I  hope,  my  dear,  that  this  is  the 
language  of  faith  out  of  the  mouth  of  a  babe  ;  but  tell 
me  what  ground  you  have  for  saying  this  ? 

GIRL.  Oh,  sir,  he  bids  little  children,  such  as  I, 
to  come  unto  him,  and  says,  "  Of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  ;"  and  besides,  I  love  Christ,  and  am  always 
glad  when  I  think  of  him. 

WHITEFIELD.  My  dear  child,  you  make  my  very 
heart  to  rejoice  ;  but  are  you  not  a  sinner  ? 

GIRL.  Yes,  I  am  a  sinner,  but  my  blessed  Re- 
deemer takes  away  sin,  and  I  long  to  be  with  him. 

WHITEFIELD.  My  dear  girl,  I  trust  that  the  desire 
of  your  heart  will  be  granted ;  but  where  do  you 
think  you  will  find  your  Redeemer  ? 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  169 

GIRL.  0,  sir,  I  think  I  shall  find  him  in  heaven. 

WHITEFIELD.  Do  you  think  you  will  get  to  heaven  ? 

GIRL.  Yes,  I  do. 

WHITEFIELD.  But  what  if  you  do  not  find  Christ 
there  ? 

GIRL.  If  I  do  not  find  Christ  there,  I  arn  sure  it  is 
not  heaven ;  for  where  he  dwells  must  be  heaven,  for 
there  also  dwells  God,  and  holy  angels,  and  all  that 
Christ  saves. 

Who  can  tell  the  results  of  a  single  sermon,  or 
trace  the  consequences  of  one  conversion?  When 
Mr.  Whitefield  was  preaching  in  New  England,  a 
lady  became  the  subject  of  divine  grace,  and  her  spirit 
was  peculiarly  drawn  out  in  prayer  for  others.  But 
in  her  Christian  exercises  she  was  alone  ;  she  could 
persuade  no  one  to  pray  with  her  but  her  little  daugh- 
ter, about  ten  years  of  age.  She  took  this  dear  child 
into  her  closet  from  day  to  day,  as  a  witness  of  her 
cries  and  tears.  After  a  time,  it  pleased  God  to 
touch  the  heart  of  the  child,  and  to  give  her  the  hope 
of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  sin.  In  a  transport 
of  holy  joy  she  then  exclaimed,  "  0,  mother,  if  all  the 
world  knew  this !  I  wish  I  could  tell-every  body.  Pray, 
mother,  let  me  run  to  some  of  the  neighbors  and  tell 
them,  that  they  may  be  happy  and  love  my  Saviour 
too."  "  Ah,  my  dear  child/'  said  the  mother,  "  that 
would  be  useless,  for  I  suppose  that  were  you  to  tell 
your  experience,  there  is  not  one  within  many  miles 
who  would  not  laugh  at  you,  and  say  it  was  all  delu- 
sion." "  Oh,  mother,"  replied  the  dear  girl,  "  I  think 
they  would  believe  me.  I  must  go  over  to  the  shoe- 
maker and  tell  him ;  he  will  believe  me."  She  ran 

WhiteSeld.  8 


170     .  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

over,  and  found  him  at  work  in  his  shop.  She  began 
by  telling  him  that  he  must  .die,  and  that  he  was  a 
sinner,  and  that  she  was  a  sinner,  but  that  her  blessed 
Saviour  had  heard  her  mother's  prayers,  and  had  for- 
given all  her  sins ;  and  that  now  she  was  so  happy 
that  she  did  not  know  how  to  tell  it.  The  shoemaker 
was  struck  with  surprise,  his  tears  flowed  down  like 
rain ;  he  threw  aside  his  work,  and  by  prayer  and  sup- 
plication sought  for  mercy.  The  neighborhood  were 
awakened,  and  within  a  few  months  more  than  fifty 
persons  were  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  Jesus,  and 
rejoiced  in  his  power  and  grace. 

But  to  return  to  our  narrative  of  "Whitefield's  la- 
bors in  Boston.  On  Thursday,  October  9,  he  preached 
the  public  lecture  at  the  Old  South  church.  He  had 
selected  another  text,  but  it  was  much  impressed  on 
his  heart  that  he  should  preach  from  our  Lord's  con- 
ference with  Nicodemus.  A  large  number  of  minis- 
ters were  present,  and  when  he  came  to  the  words, 
"  Art  thou  a  master  in  Israel,  and  knowest  not  these 
things?"  he  says,  "The  Lord  enabled  me  to  open  my 
mouth  boldly  against  unconverted  ministers,  to  caution 
tutors  to  take  care  of  their  pupils,  and  also  to  advise 
ministers  particularly  to  examine  into  the  experiences 
of  candidates  for  ordination.  For  I  am  verily  per- 
suaded the  generality  of  preachers  talk  of  an  unknown 
and  unfelt  Christ  ;  and  the  reason  why  congregations 
have  been  so  dead  is,  because  they  have  had  dead  men 
preaching  to  them.  0  that  the  Lord  may  quicken 
and  revive  them,  for  his  own  name's  sake.  For  how 
can  dead  men  beget  living  children  ?  It  is  true,  indeed, 
God  may  convert  men  by  the  devil,  if  he  pleases,  and 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  171 

so  he  may  by  unconverted  ministers  ;  but  I  believe 
he  seldom  makes  use  of  either  of  them  for  this  pur- 
pose. No  ;  the  Lord  will  choose  vessels  made  meet 
by  the  operations  of  the  blessed  Spirit  for  his  sacred 
use :  and  as  for  my  own  part,  I  would  not  lay  hands 
on  an  unconverted  man  for  ten  thousand  worlds.  Un- 
speakable freedom  God  gave  me  while  treating  on 
this  head.  After  sermon,  I  dined  with  the  governor, 
who  seemed  more  kindly  affected  than  ever,  and  par- 
ticularly told  me,  of  the  minister  who  has  lately  begun 
to  preach  extempore,  that  '  he  was  glad  he  had  found 
out  a  way  to  save  his  eyes.'  In  the  afternoon  I  preach- 
ed on  the  Common  to  about  fifteen  thousand  people, 
and  collected  upwards  of  two  hundred  pounds  for  the 
orphan-house.  Just  as  I  had  finished  my  sermon,  a 
ticket  was  put  up  to  me,  wherein  I  was  desired  to 
pray  for  a  person  just  entered  upon  the  ministry,  but 
under  apprehension  that  he  was  not  converted.  God 
enabled  me  to  pray  for  him  with  my  whole  heart ;  and 
I  hope  that  ticket  may  teach  many  others  not  to  run 
before  they  can  give  an  account  of  their  conversion. 
If  they  do,  they  offer  to  God  strange  fire."  The  same 
day  and  evening,  Whitefield  attended  the  funeral  of 
one  of  the  provincial  council,  preached  at  the  alms- 
house,  exhorted  a  great  number  of  persons  at  the 
workhouse,  who  followed  him  there,  and  conversed 
with  many  who  waited  at  his  lodgings  for  spiritual 
advice.  From  tfre  time  of  his  return  from  the  east, 
he  had  been  thronged,  morning  and  evening,  with 
anxious  inquirers.  His  friends  cried,  "Spare  thyself;" 
but  he  says,  "  I  went  and  ate  bread  very  comfortably 
at  a  friend's  house,  where  I  was  invited,  and  soon 


172  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

after  retired  to  my  rest.  Oh,  how  comfortable  is 
sleep  after  working  for  Jesus." 

On  Friday  he  preached  at  Charlestown  and  at 
Reading  to  many  thousands,  and  on  Saturday  from 
the  meeting-house  door  at  Cambridge,  on  Noah  as  a 
preacher,  of  righteousness ;  a  great  number  of  persons 
were  present,  who  stood  very  attentively  during  a 
shower  of  rain,  and  were  at  the  latter  part  of  the 
sermon  much  affected.  On  the  same  afternoon  he 
returned  to  Boston,  and  again  preached,  and  was  en- 
gaged till  midnight,  chiefly  in  conversation  and  prayer 
with  persons  anxious  for  their  salvation. 

Sunday,  October  12,  he  rose  with  body  and  soul 
greatly  refreshed,  and  spent  its  early  hours  in  con- 
versing with  those  who  came  for  spiritual  counsel. 
He  then  "  preached  with  great  power  and  affection  " 
at  the  Old  South  church,  which  was  so  exceedingly 
thronged,  that  he  was  obliged  to  get  in  at  one  of  the 
windows.  He  dined  with  the  governor,  who  came  to 
him  after  dinner  weeping,  and  desired  his  prayers. 
He  heard  Dr.  Sewall  in  the  afternoon.  Both  during 
the  exercises  and  after  them  he  was  sick,  but  went 
with  the  governor  in  his  coach,  and  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon  on  the  Common,  Gillies  says,  to  twenty 
thousand,  and  Tracy  to  nearly  thirty  thousand  people, 
though  the  whole  population  of  Boston  did  not  at  that 
time  exceed  twenty  thousand.  Great  multitudes  were 
melted  into  tears  when  he  spoke  "of  leaving  them. 
The  governor  then  went  with  him  to  his  lodgings. 
He  stood  in  the  passage  and  spoke  to  a  great  com- 
pany, both  within  and  without  the  doors  ;  but  they 
were  so  deeply  affected,  and  cried  out  so  loud,  that 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  173 

he  was  compelled  to  leave  off  praying.  The  remain- 
ing part  of  the  evening  was  chiefly  spent  in  conversa- 
tion with  inquirers. 

.*  In  closing  his  account  of  this  day's  work,  he  ex- 
claims, "Blessed  be  God  for  what  things  he  has  done 
in  Boston!  I  hope  a  glorious  work  is  now  begun, 
and  that  the  Lord  will  stir  up  some  faithful  laborers 
to  carry  it  on.  Boston  is  a  large,  populous  place, 
very  wealthy.  Has  the  form  kept  up,  but  has  lost 
much  of  the  power  of  religion.  I  have  not  heard  of 
any  remarkable  stir  for  these  many  years.  Ministers 
and  people  are  obliged  to  confess,  that  the  love  of  many 
is  waxed  cold.  Both,  for  the  generality,  seem  to  be 
too  much  conformed  to  the  world.  There  is  much  of 
the  pride  of  life  to  be  seen  in  their  assemblies.  Jewels, 
patches,  and  gay  apparel  are  commonly  worn  by  the 
female  sex ;  and  even  the  common  people,  I  observed 
dressed  up  in  the  pride  of  life.  There  are  nine  meet- 
ing-houses of  the  Congregational  persuasion,  one  Bap- 
tist, one  French,  and  one  belonging  to  the  Scotch-Irish. 
One  thing  Boston  is  very  remarkable  for — the  exter- 
nal observance  of  the  Sabbath.  Men  in  civil  offices 
have  a  regard  for  religion.  The  governor  encourages 
them,  and  the  ministers  and  magistrates  are  more 
united  than  in  any  other  place  where  I  have  been. 
Both  were  exceedingly  civil  to  me  during  my  stay.  I 
never  saw  so  little  scoffing,  never  had  so  little  oppo- 
sition. But  one  might  easily  see  much  would  here- 
after arise,  when  I  came  to  be  more  particular  in  my 
application  to  particular  persons ;  for  I  fear  many 
rest  in  a  head-knowledge,  are  close  pharisees,  and 
have  only  a  name  to  live.  It  must  needs  be  so  when 


174  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  power  of  godliness  is  dwindled  away,  and  where 
the  form  only  of  religion  is  become  fashionable  among 
people.  Boston  people  are  dear  to  my  soul.  They 
were  greatly  affected  by  the  word,  followed  me  night ' 
and  day,  and  were  very  liberal  to  my  dear  orphans. 
I  promised,  God  willing,  to  visit  them  again,  and  in- 
tend to  fulfil  my  promise  when  it  shall  please  God  to 
bring  me  again  from  my  native  country.  In  the  mean- 
while, dear  Boston,  adieu.  The  Lord  be  with  thy 
ministers  and  people,  and  grant  that  the  remnant 
which  is  still  left  according  to  the  election  of  grace, 
may  take  root  downwards,  and  bear  fruit  upwards, 
and  fill-  the  land." 

On  the  morning  following  these  solemn  services, 
Whitefield  left  Boston  on  his  way  to  Northampton. 
To  detail  his  four  days'  progress,  would  be  almost  to 
repeat  what  we  have  already  written.  At  Concord, 
where  he  arrived  on  Monday  about  noon,  he  preached 
twice  to  some  thousands  in  the  open  air,  "  and  a  com- 
fortable preaching  it  was.  The  hearers  were  sweetly 
melted  down."  Mr.  Bliss,  the  minister  of  the  town, 
of  whose  subsequent  labors  it  has  been  well  said,  more 
perfect  accounts  ought  to  have  been  preserved,  wept 
abundantly.  On  Tuesday  he  "preached  at  Sudbury 
to  some  thousands  with  power,  and  observed  a  consid- 
erable commotion  in  the  assembly ;"  as  was  also  the 
case  the  same  afternoon  at  Marlborough.  At  the  lat- 
ter place  he  was  met  by  Governor  Belcher,  who  went 
with  him  through  the  rain  that  night  to  "Worcester. 
Here,  on  Wednesday,  he  "  preached  in  the  open  air  to 
some  thousands.  The  word  fell  with  weight  indeed. 
It  carried  all  before  it.  After  sermon,  the  governor 


• 
FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  115 

said  to  me,  '  I  pray  God  I  may  apply  what  has  been 
said  to  my  own  heart.  Pray,  Mr.  Whitefield,  that  I 
may  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness.' "  Pass- 
ing on,  he  preached  at  Leicester,  Brookfield,  and  Cold- 
Spring,  on  his  way  to  Hadley,  where  he  arrived  on 
Friday,  and  preached  about  noon.  In  this  place  he 
says,  "  A  great  work  was  begun,  and  carried  on  some 
years  ago  ;  but  lately  the  people  of  God  have  complain- 
ed of  deadness  and  losing  their  first  love.  However, 
as  soon  as  I  mentioned  what  God  had  done  for  their 
souls  formerly,  it  was  like  putting  fire  to  timber.  The 
remembrance  of  it  quickened  them,  and  caused  many 
to  weep  sorely."  On  the  same  afternoon  he  crossed 
the  ferry  to  Northampton. 

Of  the  great  revival  of  religion  in  New  England, 
which  commenced  at  Northampton  about  1734,  and  is 
the  subject  of  President  Edwards'  "Narrative,"  we 
have  already  briefly  spoken  ;  its  importance  will  justify 
a  mare  extended  notice.  It  began  without  any  extra-  . 
ordinary  circumstances  to  awaken  the  attention  of  the 
people,  or  any  uncommon  arrangements  or  efforts  by 
the  minister.  The  young  people  of  the  place  had  for 
two  or  three  years  shown  an  increased  measure  of 
thoughtfulness,  and  a  growing  disposition  to  receive 
religious  instruction.  There  had  been,  from  time  to 
time,  instances  of  strong  religious  impression  and  of 
hopeful  conversion.  But  in  the  latter  end  of  Decem- 
ber, 1734,  five  or  six  persons,  one  after  another,  be- 
came very  suddenly  the  subjects  of  the  grace  of  God 
which  newly  creates  the  soul.  Among  these  was  a 
young  woman  distinguished  for  her  gayety  in  youthful 
society,  "  one  of  the  greatest  company-keepers  in  the 


176  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

whole  town,"  who  came  to  the  pastor  with  a  broken 
heart  and  a  contrite  spirit,  and  with  faith  and  hope  in 
the  Saviour  of  sinners,  before  any  one  had  heard  of 
her  being  at  all  impressed  with  serious  things.  The 
sudden,  though,  as  time  proved,  the  real  conversion  of 
this  young  woman,  was  the  power  of  God  striking  the 
electric  chain  of  religious  sympathies  which  had  im- 
perceptibly, but  effectually  encircled  all  the  families 
of  Northampton.  Mr.  Edwards'  "  Narrative "  says, 
"  The  news  of  it  seemed  to  be  almost  like  a  flash  of 
lightning  upon  the  hearts  of  young  people  all  over  the 
town,  and  upon  many  others.  .  .  .  Presently  a  great 
and  earnest  concern  about  the  great  things  of  religion 
and  the  eternal  world  became  universal  in  all  parts 
of  the  town,  and  among  persons  of  all  degrees  and  all 
ages.  All  talk  but  about  spiritual  and  eternal  things 
was  soon  thrown  by  ;  all  the  conversation  in  all  com- 
panies was  upon  these  things  only,  except  so  much  as 
was  necessary  for  people  carrying  on  their  ordinary 
secular  business.  The  minds  of  people  were  wonder- 
fully taken  off  from  the  world  ;  it  was  treated  among 
us  as  a  thing  of  very  little  consequence.  All  would 
eagerly  lay  hold  of  opportunities  for  their  souls,  and 
were  wont  very  often  to  meet  together  in  private 
houses  for  religious  purposes.  And  such  meetings, 
when  appointed,  were  generally  thronged.  Those 
who  were  wont  to  be  the  vainest  and  loosest,  and 
those  who  had  been  most  disposed  to  think  and  speak 
lightly  of  vital  and  experimental  religion,  were  now 
generally  subject  to  great  awakening.  And  the  work 
of  conversion  was  carried  on  in  a  most  astonishing 
manner,  and  increased  more  and  more.  From  day  to 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  117 

day,  for  many  months  together,  might  be  seen  evident 
instances  of  sinners  brought  out  of  darkness  into  mar- 
vellous light.  In  the  spring  and  summer  following, 
the  town  seemed  to  be  full  of  the  presence  of  God  ;  it 
was  never  so  full  of  love,  and  yet  so  full  of  distress, 
as  it  was  then.  It  was  a  time  of  joy  in  families,  on 
account  of  salvation  being  brought  to  them  ;  parents 
rejoicing  over  their  children  as  new-born,  and  hus- 
bands over  their  wives,  and  wives  over  their  hus- 
bands. The  goings  of  God  were  then  seen  in  his 
sanctuary,  God's  day  was  a  delight,  and  his  taberna- 
cles were  amiable.  Our  public  assemblies  were  then 
beautiful ;  the  congregation  was  alive  in  God's  ser- 
vice, every  one  eagerly  intent  on  the  public  worship, 
every  hearer  eager  to  drink  in  the  words  of  the  min- 
ister as  they  came  from  his  mouth.  The  assembly 
were,  from  time  to  time,  in  tears,  while  the  word  was 
preached ;  some  weeping  with  sorrow  and  distress, 
others  with  joy  and  love,  others  with  pity  and  con- 
cern for  their  neighbors." 

In  December,  1743,  nine  years  after  this  blessed 
work  had  begun,  Edwards  writes,  "  Ever  since  the 
great  work  of  God  that  was  wrought  here  about  nine 
years  ago,  there  has  been  a  great,  abiding  alteration 
in  this  town,  in  many  respects.  There  has  been  vastly 
more  religion  kept  up  in  the  town,  among  all  sorts  of 
persons,  in  religious  exercises,  and  in  common  conver- 
sation, than  used  to  be  before.  There  has  remained 
a  more  general  seriousness  and  decency  in  attending 
the  public  worship.  I  suppose  the  town  has  been  in 
no  measure  so  free  from  vice,  for  any  long  time  to- 
gether, for  these  sixty  years,  as  it  has  these  nine  years 


178  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

past.  There  has  also  been  an  evident  alteration  with 
respect  to  a  charitable  spirit  to  the  poor.  And  though, 
after  that  great  work  of  nine  years  ago,  there  has 
been  a  very  lamentable  decay  of  religious  affections, 
and  the  engagedness  of  people's  spirits  in  religion, 
yet  many  societies  for  prayer  and  social  religion  were 
all  along  kept  up,  and  there  were  some  few  instances 
of  awakening  and  deep  concern  about  the  things  of 
another  world,  even  in  the  most  dead  time.  In  the 
year  1740,  in  the  spring,  before  Mr.  Whitefield  came 
to  this  town,  there  was  a  visible  alteration.  There 
was  more  seriousness  and  religious  conversation,  espe- 
cially among  young  people.  Those  things  that  were 
of  ill  tendency  "among  them  were  more  forborne  ;  and 
it  was  a  more  frequent  thing  for  persons  to  visit  their 
ministers  upon  soul  accounts.  In  some  particular  per- 
sons, there  appeared  a  great  alteration  about  that 
time.  And  thus  it  continued  till  Mr.  Whitefield  came 
to  town,  which  was  about  the  middle  of  October 
following." 

And  what  thought  Whitefield  himself  on  his  arri- 
val at  Northampton?  Let  us  hear  him.  "Their  pas- 
tor's name  is  Edwards,  successor  and  grandson  to  the 
great  Stoddard,  whose  memory  will  be  always  pre- 
cious to  my  soul,  and  whose  books,  entitled,  "*#  Guide 
to  Christ"  and  "  Safety  of  appearing  in  Christ's  right- 
eousness" I  would  recommend  to  all.  Mr.  Edwards 
is  a  solid,  excellent  Christian,  but  at  present  weak  in 
body.  I  think  I  may  say  I  have  not  seen  his  fellow 
in  all  New  England.  When  I  came  into  his  pulpit,  I 
found  my  heart  drawn  out  to  talk  of  scarce  any  thing 
besides  the  consolations  and  privileges  of  saints,  and 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND  179 

the  plentiful  effusion  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  hearts  of 
believers.  And  when  I  came  to  remind  them  of  their 
former  experiences,  and  how  zealous  and  lively  they 
were  at  that  time,  both  minister  and  people  wept 
much  ;  and  the  Holy  Ghost  enabled  me  to  speak  with 
a  great  deal  of  power.  In  the  evening,  I  gave  a  word 
of  exhortation  to  several  who  came  to  Mr.  Edwards' 
house." 

On  the  following  morning,  "  At  Mr.  Edwards'  re- 
quest, I  spoke  to  his  little  children,  who  were  much 
affected.  Preached  at  Hatfield,  five  miles  from  North- 
ampton, but  found  myself  not  much  strengthened. 
Conversed  profitably  on  the  way  about  the  things  of 
God  with  dear  Mr.  Edwards,  and  preached  about  four 
in  the  afternoon  to  his  congregation.  I  began  with 
fear  and  trembling,  feeling  but  little  power  in  the 
morning,  but  God  assisted  me.  Few  dry  eyes  seemed 
to  be  in  the  assembly  for  a  considerable  time.  I  had 
an  affecting  prospect  in  my  own  heart  of  the  glories 
of  the  upper  world,  and  was  enabled  to  speak  of  them 
feelingly  to  others.  I  believe  many  were  filled,  as  it 
were,  with  new  wine  ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  a  time  of 
refreshing  was  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 

The  day  following  this  was  the  Sabbath.  White- 
field  tells  us  in  his  journal,  that  he  "felt  wonderful 
satisfaction  in  being  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Edwards. 
He  is  a  son  himself,  and  hath  also  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham for  his  wife.  A  sweeter  couple  I  have  not  yet 
seen.  Their  children  were  dressed,  not  in  silks  and 
satins,  but  plain,  as  becomes  the  children  of  those  who 
in  all  things  ought  to  be  examples  of  Christian  sim- 
plicity. She  is  a  woman  adorned  with  a  meek  and 


180  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

quiet  spirit,  talked -feelingly  and  solidly  of  the  things 
of  God,  and  seemed  to  be  such  a  help-mate  for  her 
husband,  that  she  caused  me  to  renew  those  prayers, 
which,  for  some  months,  I  have  put  up  to  God,  that 
he  would  be  pleased  to  send  me  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham to  be  my  wife.  I  find,  upon  many  accounts,  it  is 
my  duty  to  marry.  Lord,  I  desire  to  have  no  choice 
of  my  own.  Thou  knowest  my  circumstances ;  thou 
knowest  1  only  desire  to  marry  in  and  for  thee." 

Whitefield  "  preached  this  morning,  and  perceived 
the  melting  begin  sooner  and  rise  higher  than  before. 
Dear  Mr.  Edwards  wept  during  the  whole  time  of 
exercise.  The  people  were  equally,  if  not  more  af- 
fected ;  and  my  own  soul  was  much  lifted  up  towards 
God.  In  the  afternoon  the  power  increased  yet  more 
and  more.  Our  Lord  seemed  to  keep  the  good  wine 
till  th'e  last.  I  have  not  seen  four  such  gracious  meet- 
ings together  since  my  arrival.  My  soul  was  much 
knit  to  these  dear  people  of  God ;  and  though  I  had 
not  time  f  to  converse  with  them  about  their  expe- 
riences, yet  one  might  see  they  were  for  the  most 
part,  a  gracious,  tender  people  ;  and  though  their 
former  fire  might  be  greatly  abated,  yet  it  immedi- 
ately appeared  when  stirred  up." 

Edwards  had  looked  forward  to  Whitefield's  visit 
to  Northampton  with  interest,  for  he  felt  greatly  con- 
cerned for  his  success.  He  wrote  a  week  before  his 
arrival  to  his  friend  Dr.  Wheelock,  then  a  young  min- 
ister of  twenty-nine,  "  I  think  that  those  that  make 
mention  of  the  Lord,  should  now  be  awakened  and 
encouraged  to  call  upon  God,  and  not  keep  silence, 
nor  give  him  any  rest,  till  he  establish  and  till  he 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  181 

make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  earth ;  and  particu- 
larly should  be  earnest  with  God,  that  he  would  still 
uphold  and  succeed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  the  in- 
strument that  it  has  pleased  him  to  improve  to  do 
such  great  things  for  the  honor  of  his  name,  and  at 
all  times  so  to  guide  and  direct  him  under  his  extra- 
ordinary circumstances,  that  Satan  may  not  get  any 
advantage  of  him." 

After  his  visit,  Edwards  writes,  "  Mr.  Whitefield's 
sermons  were  suitable  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
town ;  containing  just  reproofs  of  our  backslidings, 
and  in  a  most  moving  and  affecting  manner,  making 
use  of  our  great  profession  and  our  great  mercies  as 
arguments  with  us  to  return  to  God,  from  whom  we 
had  departed.  Immediately  after  this,  the  minds  of 
the  people  in  general  appeared  more  engaged  in  relig- 
ion, showing  a  greater  forwardness  to  make  it  the 
subject  of  their  conversation,  and  to  meet  frequently 
for  religious  purposes,  and  to  embrace  all  opportuni- 
ties to  hear  the  word  preached.  The  revival  at  first 
appeared  chiefly  among  professors,  and  those  who  had 
entertained  the  hope  that  they  were  in  a  state  of  grace, 
to  whom  Mr.  Whitefield  chiefly  addressed  himself; 
but  in  a  very  short  time,  there  appeared  an  awakening 
and  deep  concern  among  some  young  persons  that 
looked  upon  themselves  in  a  Christless  state  ;  and 
there  were  some  hopeful  appearances  of  conversion ; 
and  some  professors  were  greatly  revived.  In  about 
a  month  or  six  weeks,  there  was  a  great  alteration  in 
the  town,  both  as  to  the  revivals  of  professors,  and 
awakenings  of  others." 

During  this  visit  of  Whitefield  to  Edwards,  some 


182  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

conversation  was  held  between  them,  of  which,  several 
years  afterwards,  as  it  appears  to  us,  far  too  much 
was  said.  Edwards  took  an  opportunity,  privately, 
to  converse  with  his  friend  about  impulses,  and  furnish- 
ed him  with  some  reasons  for  thinking  that  he  gave 
too  much  attention  to  such  things.  Whitefield  did 
not  appear  offended,  neither  did  he  seem  inclined  to 
converse  much  on  the  subject,  or  to  yield  to  the  rea- 
sonings of  his  friend  Edwards.  The  latter  says,  "  It 
is  true,  that  I  thought  Mr.  Whitefield  liked  me  not  so 
well  for  my  opposing  these  things ;  and  though  he 
treated  me  with  great  kindness,  yet  he  never  made  so 
much  of  an  intimate  of  me,  as  of  some  others."  It 
seems  also,  that  they  conversed  on  the  strong  lan- 
guage which  the  great  evangelist  was  accustomed  to 
employ  as  to  those  whom  he  considered  to  be  uncon- 
verted, and  the  duty  of  the  people  to  forsake  the 
preaching  of  ministers  whom  he  did  not  consider  to 
be  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  their  minds.  Whitefield 
told  Edwards  also,  of  the  design  he  had  cherished  of 
bringing  over  a  number  of  young  men  from  England, 
to  be  ordained  by  the  Tennents,  in  New  Jersey ;  an 
object,  however,  which  he  never  accomplished. 

It  appears  that  after  preaching  at  Northampton 
twice  on  the  Sabbath.  Whitefield,  accompanied  by  his 
friend  Edwards,  rode  to  the  house  of  the  father  of  the 
last-named  gentleman,  the  Rev.  Timothy  Edwards,  in 
East  Windsor,  Connecticut.  At  this  place,  as  also  at 
Westfield,  Springfield,  Suffield,  Hartford,  Wethers- 
field,  Middletown,  and  Wallingford,  he  preached  to 
large  assemblies,  generally  with  his  accustomed  ani- 
mation and  power,  and  with  the  happy  proofs  of  sue- 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  183 

cess  which  he  so  frequently  witnessed.  During  this 
week  also,  he  experienced  a  remarkable  deliverance 
from  great  danger.  He  says,  "  A  little  after  I  left 
Springfield,  my  horse,  coming  over  a  broken  bridge, 
threw  me  over  his  head,  directly  upon  my  nose.  The 
fall  stunned  me  for  a  while.  My  mouth  was  full  of 
dust,  I  bled  a  little,  but  falling  upon  soft  sand,  got  not 
much  damage.  After  I  had  recovered  myself,  and 
mounted  my  horse,  God  so  filled  me  with  a  sense  of 
his  sovereign,  distinguishing  love,  and  my  own  un- 
worthiness,  that  my  eyes  gushed  out  with  tears  ;  but 
they  were  all  tears  of  love.  Oh,  how  did  -I  want  to 
sink  before  the  high  and  lofty  One  who  inhabiteth 
eternity !" 

During  this  week  also,  on  his  way  to  Suffield,  he 
met  with  a  minister  who  said,  "  It  was  not  absolutely 
necessary  for  a  gospel  minister,  that  he  should  be  con- 
verted ;"  meaning,  no  doubt,  that  though  conversion 
was  necessary  to  his  salvation,  it  was  not  indispensa- 
ble to  his  ministerial  character  and  usefulness.  This 
gave  Whitefield  a  subject.  "  I  insisted  much  in  my 
discourse  upon  the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth,  and  also 
the  necessity  of  a  minister's  being  converted,  before 
he  could  preach  Christ  aright.  The  word  came  with 
great  power,  and  a  great  impression  was  made  upon 
the  people  in  all  parts  of  the  assembly.  Many  minis- 
ters were  present.  I  did  not  spare  them.  Most  of 
them  thanked  me  for  my  plain  dealing  ;  but  one  was 
offended  ;  and  so  would  more  of  his  stamp  be,  if  I 
were  to  continue  longer  in  New  England.  For  un- 
converted ministers  are  the  bane  of  the  Christian 
church ;  and  though  I  honor  the  memory  of  that  great 


184  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

and  good  man  Mr.  Stoddard,  yet  I  think  he  is  much 
to  be  blamed  for  endeavoring  to  prove  that  uncon- 
verted men  might  be  admitted  into  the  ministry.  How 
he  has  handled  the  controversy,  I  know  not.  I  think 
no  solid  arguments  can  be  brought  to  defend  such  a 
cause.  A  sermon  lately  published  by  Mr.  Gilbert 
Tennent,  entitled, '  The  Danger  of  an  Unconverted  Minis- 
try,' I  think  unanswerable.  Tracy  truly  says,  that 
Stoddard,  in  his  '  Appeal  to  tJie  Learned'  assumes  that 
an  unconverted  minister  is  bound  to  continue  in  the 
performance  of  ministerial  duties,  and  infers  that  uncon- 
verted men  may  therefore  be  admitted  to  the  church. 
This  opinion  at  one  period  extensively  prevailed, 
though  all  held  it  desirable  that  a  minister  should  be 
a  converted  man.  By  his  attacks  on  this  opinion,  and 
especially  by  thus  endorsing  Tennent's  Nottingham 
sermon,  Whitefield  gave  great  offence." 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  he  preached  at  East 
Windsor,  and  spent  the  night  with  Mr.  Edwards,  sen- 
ior, "  I  believe,"-  he  says,  "  a  true  disciple  and  minis- 
ter of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  After  exercise,  we  sup- 
ped at  the  house  of  old  Mr.  Edwards.  His  wife  was 
as  aged,  I  believe,  as  himself,  and  I  fancied  that  I  was 
sitting  in  the  house  of  a  Zacharias  and  Elisabeth."  On 
the  following  day,  he  "preached  to  many  thousands, 
and  with  much  freedom  and  power,"  at  Hartford  in 
the  morning,  and  at  Wethersfield  in  the  afternoon. 
Here  he  met  Messrs.  Wheelock  and  Pomeroy,  "  two 
young,  faithful,  and  zealous  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ." 
From  this  place  he  had  intended  to  go  eastward  as 
far  as  Plymouth,  and  return  by  another  route  to  Prov- 
idence, and  notice  had  been  given  in  the  newspapers 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  185 

of  about  twenty  sermons  which  he  proposed  to  preach 
at  the  times  and  places  specified.  He  was  afterwards 
blamed  for  making  these  appointments  without  first 
consulting  the  pastors  of  the  several  churches ;  thus 
giving  countenance,  it  was  said^  to  the  practice  of  itin- 
erants intruding  into  other  men's  parishes  without 
their  consent.  The  proceeding  was  certainly  some- 
what irregular,  but  Whitefield  was  not  much  to  be 
blamed  for  it.  The  details  were  settled,  and  the  pub- 
lication made  by  men  in  whose  judgment  and  know- 
ledge of  the  customs  of  the  country  he  had  a  right  to 
confide  ;  and  the  appointments  were  believed,  in  all 
cases,  and  doubtless  known  in  some,  to  be  agreeable 
to  the  parties  concerned.  At  Wethersfield,  however, - 
the  evangelist  ascertained  the  necessity  of  his  hasten- 
ing on  to  New  York,  and  immediately,  therefore,  pub- 
lished a  note  recalling  these  appointments. 

On  Friday,  October  24,  Whitefield  arrived  at  New 
Haven,  and  was  entertained  at  the  house  of  Mr.  James 
Pierpont,  the  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Edwards,  and  of 
Mr.  Noyes.  the  minister  of  the  First  Congregational 
church.  The  Legislature  of  the  colony  being  in  ses- 
sion, he  remained  till  after  the  Lord's  day  ;  and  "had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  numbers  daily  impressed,"  un- 
der his  ministrations  in  the  old  polygonal  meeting- 
house. Several  ministers  of  the  vicinity  visited  him, 
"  with  whose  pious  conversation  he  was  much  refresh- 
ed." Good  old  Governor  Tallcott,  on  whom  with 
due  politeness  he  waited  to  pay  his  respects,  said  to 
him,  "  Thanks  be  to  God  for  such  refreshings  in  our 
way  to  heaven."  Among  others  who  heard  his  glow- 
ing appeals  to  the  congregations  that  listened  to 


186  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

him  during  this  visit,  was  young  Samuel  Hopkins, 
still  well  known  as  an  eminent  divine.  Hopkins  was 
now  nineteen,  and  was  a  student  at  college  ;  his  biog- 
rapher tells  us,  that  "  he  was  much  interested  in  the 
man,  and  much  impressed  by  his  solemn  warnings." 

The  testimony  of  Hopkins  himself  may  here  be 
introduced.  He  says,  speaking  of  Whitefield,  "The 
attention  of  the  people  in  general  was  greatly  awak- 
ened upon  hearing  the  fame  of  him,  that  there  was  a 
remarkable  preacher  from  England  travelling  through 
the  country.  *  The  people  flocked  to  hear  him  when 
he  came  to  New  Haven.  Some  travelled  twenty  miles 
out  of  the  country  to  hear  him.  The  assemblies  were 
crowded,  and  remarkably  attentive;  people  appeared 
generally  to  approve,  and  their  conversation  turned 
chiefly  upon  him  and  his  preaching.  Some  disap- 
proved of  several  things,  which  occasioned  consid- 
erable disputes.  I  heard  him  when  he  preached  in 
public,  and  when  he  expounded  in  private  in  the 
evening,  and  highly  approved  of  him,  and  was  im- 
pressed by  what  he  said  in  public  and  in  private.  He 
preached  against  mixed  dancing  and  the  frolicking 
of  males  and  females  together,  whieh  practice  was 
then  very  common  in  New  England.  This  offended 
some,  especially  young  people.  But  I  remember  I 
justified  him  in  this  in  my  own  mind,  and  in  conver- 
sation with  those  who  were  disposed  to  condemn  him. 
This  was  in  October,  1740,  when  I  had  entered  on 
my  last  year  in  college." 

On  this  visit,  Whitefield  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Clap,  the  rector  of  the  college.  Of  the  college  he 
says,  "It  is  about  one-third  part  as  big  as  Cam- 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  187 

bridge.  It  h/is  one  rector,  three  tutors,  and  about  a 
hundred  students.  But  I  hear  of  no  remarkable  con- 
cern among  them  concerning  religion."  Mr.  Clap,  it 
is  well  known,  afterwards  became  the  public  opponent 
of  Whitefield ;  and  it  would  seem  that  his  dislike  to 
him  commenced  with  this  first  'interview  ;  for  he 
"  spoke  very  closely  to  the  students,  and  showed  the 
dreadful  consequences  of  an  unconverted  ministry." 
In  his  journal  of  the  day  he  says,  "  0  that  God  may 
quicken  ministers !  0  that  the  Lord  may  make  them  a 
naming  fire !"  On  the  two  days  following,  he  preached 
at  Milford,  Stratford,  and  Fairfield,  on  his  way  to  New 
York.  On  Wednesday,  when  at  Stamford,  he  thus 
speaks  of  New  England  and  his  labors  in  it : 

"  I  give  God  thanks  for  sending  me  to  New  Eng- 
land. I  have  now  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
greatest  and  most  populous  parts  of  it ;  and  take  it 
all  together,  it  certainly  on  many  accounts  exceeds 
all  other  provinces  of  America,  and  for  the  establish- 
ment of  religion,  perhaps  all  other  parts  of  the  world. 
Never,  surely,  was  so  large  a  spot  of  ground  settled 
in  such  a  manner,  in  so  short  a  space  of  one  hundred 
years.  The  towns  all  through  Connecticut  and  east- 
wards towards  York  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts, 
[Maine,]  near  the  river-side,  are  large,  well  peopled, 
and  exceedingly  pleasant  to  travel  through.  Every 
five  miles,  or  perhaps  less,  you  have  a  meeting-house, 
and  I  believe  there  is  no  such  a  thing  as  a  pluralist, 
or  non-resident  minister  in  both  provinces.  Many, 
nay,  most  that  preach,  I  fear  do  not  experimentally 
know  Christ ;  yet  I  cannot  see  much  worldly  advan- 
tage to  tempt  them  to  take  upon  them  the  sacred 


188  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

function.  Few  country  ministers,  as  I  Jiave  been  in- 
formed, have  sufficient  allowed  them  in  money  to 
maintain  a  family.  God  has  remarkably,  in  sundry 
times  and  in  divers  manners,  poured  out  his  Spirit  in 
several  parts  of  both  provinces  ;  and  it  often  refreshes 
my  soul  to  hear  of  the  faith  of  the  good  forefathers 
who  first  settled  in  these  parts.  Notwithstanding 
they  had  their  foibles,  surely  they  were  a  set  of  right- 
eous men.  They  certainly  followed  our  Lord's  rule, 
sought  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteous- 
ness; and  behold,  all  other  things  God  added  unto 
them.  Their  seed  are  now  blessed,  in  temporal  things 
especially,  and  notwithstanding  the  rising  generation 
seem  to  be  settled  on  their  lees,  yet  I  believe  the  Lord 
hath  more  than  seven  thousand  who  have  not  bowed 
the  knee  to  Baal.  The  ministers  and  people  of  Con- 
necticut seem  to  be  more  simple  than  those  that  live 
near  Boston,  especially  in  those  parts  where  I  went. 
But  I  think  the  ministers'  preaching  almost  universally 
by  notes,  is  a  certain  mark  they  have  in  a  great  meas- 
ure lost  the  old  spirit  of  preaching.  For  though  all 
are  not  to  be  condemned  that  use  notes,  yet  it  is  a  sad 
symptom  of  the  decay  of  vital  religion  when  reading 
sermons  becomes  fashionable,  where  extempore  preach- 
ing did  once  almost  universally  prevail.  As  for  the 
universities,  I  believe  it  may  be  said,  their  light  is 
become  darkness,  darkness  that  may  be  felt,  and  is 
complained  of  by  the  most  godly  ministers.  I  pray 
God  these  fountains  may  be  purified,  and  send  forth 
pure  streams  to  water  the  cities  of  our  God.  ...  As  for 
the  civil  government  of  New  England,  it  seems  to  be 
well  regulated,  and  I  think,  at  opening  all  their  courts, 


FIRST  VISIT  T,0  NEW  ENGLAND.  189 

either  the  judge  or  a  minister  begins  with  a  prayer. 
Family  worship,  I  believe,  is  generally  kept  up.  The 
negroes  I  think  better  used,  both  in  soul  and  body, 
than  in  any  other  province  I  have  yet  seen.  In  short, 
I  like  New  England  exceedingly  well ;  and  when  a 
spirit  of  reformation  revives,  it  certainly  will  prevail 
here  more  than  in  other  places,  because  they  are  sim- 
ple in  their  worship,  less  corrupt  in  their  principles, 
and  consequently  easier  to  be  brought  over  to  the 
form  of  sound  words,  into  which  so  many  of  their 
pious  ancestors  were  delivered.  Send  forth,  0  Lord, 
thy  light  and  thy  truth,  and  for  thine  infinite  mercy's 
sake,  show  thou  hast  a  peculiar  delight  in  these  hab- 
itable parts  of  the  earth.  Amen,  Lord  Jesus,  amen, 
and  amen." 

Among  many  who  became  the  subjects  of  divine 
grace  during  this  visit  of  Whitefield  to  New  England, 
was  Daniel  Emerson,  who  was  educated  at  Harvard 
college,  where  he  received  his  first  degree  in  1739, 
and  where  he  continued  to  reside  for  some  time  as  a 
graduate.  While  at  college,  he  is  said  to  have  been 
very  fond  of  the  gay  pleasures  of  this  life,  until  his 
attention  was  effectually  called  to  religion  by  the 
preaching  of  Whitefield,  whom  he  followed  from  place 
to  place  for  several  days.  He  was  ordained  at  Hollis, 
New  Hampshire,  in  1743,  where,  in  a  ministry  of  fifty 
years,  he  was  a  worthy  follower  of  his  spiritual  father. 
The  chief  excellences  of  his  preaching  were  sound  doc- 
trine, deep  feeling,  and  zeal  at  times  almost  over- 
whelming. He  was  truly  a  son  of  thunder,  and  a 
flaming  light.  He  was  almost  incessantly  engaged  in 
labors,  preaching,  attending  funerals,  etc.,  far  and 


190  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

near.  His  efforts  were  greatly  blessed,  especially 
among  his  own  people,  who  under  his  ministry  en- 
joyed extensive  revivals  of  religion,  and  where  also  a 
large  number  of  ministers  have  been  called  to  their 
work.  He  died  in  1801,  aged  eighty-five. 

It  may  be  appropriate  to  introduce  here  a  sketch 
of  Whitefield's  doctrines  and  labors  at  this  time,  as 
given  us  by  the  eminent  Dr.  Thomas  Prince,  in  his 
"  Christian  History,"  under  date  of  January  26, 1744-5, 
but  having  reference  to  Whitefield's  first  visit  to  New 
England,  which  we  have  just  described  : 

"  He  spoke  with  a  mighty  sense  of  God,  eternity, 
the  immortality  and  preciousness  of  the  souls  of  his 
hearers,  of  their  original  corruption,  and  of  the  ex- 
treme danger  the  unregenerate  are  in  ;  with  the  nature 
and  absolute  necessity  of  regeneration  by  the  Holy 
Ghost;  and  of  believing  in  Christ,  in  order  to  our 
pardon,  justification,  yielding  an  acceptable  obedience, 
and  obtaining  salvation  from  hell  and  an  entrance 
into  heaven.  His  doctrine  was  plainly  that  of  the 
reformers ;  declaring  against  our  putting  our  good 
works  or  morality  in  the  room  of  Christ's  righteous- 
ness, or  their  having  any  hand  in  our  justification,  or 
being  indeed  pleasing  to  God  while  we  are  totally 
unsanctified,  acting  upon  corrupt  principles,  and  un- 
reconciled enemies  to  him;  which  occasioned  some  to 
mistake  him,  as  if  he  opposed  morality.  But  he  in- 
sisted on  it,  that  the  tree  of  the  heart  is  by  original 
sin  exceedingly  corrupted,  and  must  be  made  good  by 
regeneration,  that  so  the  fruits  proceeding  from  it  may 
be  good  likewise  ;  that  where  the  heart  is  renewed,  it 
ought  and  will  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works , 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  191 

that  if  any  be  not  habitually  so  careful  who  think 
themselves  renewed,  they  deceive  their  own  souls ; 
and  even  the  most  improved  in  holiness,  as  well  as 
others,  must  entirely  depend  on  the  righteousness  of 
Christ  for  the  acceptance  of  their  persons  and  services. 
And  though  now  and  then  he  dropped  some  expres- 
sions that  were  not  so  accurate  and  guarded  as  we 
should  expect  from  aged  and  long-studied  ministers, 
yet  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  observe  his  readiness  with 
great  modesty  and  thankfulness  to  receive  correction 
as  soon  as  offered. 

"  In  short,  he  was  a  most  importunate  wooer  of 
souls  to  come  to  Christ  for  the  enjoyment  of  him,  and 
all  his  benefits.  He  distinctly  applied  his  exhorta- 
tions to  the  elderly  people,  the  middle-aged,  the  young, 
the  Indians,  and  negroes,  and  had  a  most  winning 
way  of  addressing  them.  He  affectionately  prayed 
for  our  magistrates,  ministers,  colleges,  candidates  for 
the  ministry,  and  churches,  as  well  as  people  in  gen- 
eral ;  and  before  he  left  us,  in  a  public  and  moving 
manner,  he  observed  to  the  people  how  sorry  he  was 
to  hear  that  the  religious  assemblies,  especially  on 
lectures,  had  been  so  thin,  exhorted  them  earnestly  to 
a  more  general  attendance  on  our  public  ministra- 
tions for  the  time  to  come,  and  told  them  how  glad  he 
should  be  to  hear  of  the  same. 

"  Multitudes  were  greatly  affected,  and  many  awak- 
ened with  his  lively  ministry.  Though  he  preached 
every  day,  the  houses  were  crowded ;  but  when  he 
preached  on  the  Common,  a  vaster  number  attended ; 
and  almost  every  evening  the  house  where  he  lodged 
was  thronged  to  hear  his  prayers  and  counsels. 


192  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

"  On  Mr.  Whitefield's  leaving  us,  great  numbers  in 
this  town  [Boston]  were  so  happily  concerned  about 
their  souls,  as  we  had  never  seen  any  thing  like  it  be- 
fore, except  at  the  time  of  the  general  earthquake  ;* 
and  their  desires  excited  to  hear  their  ministers  more 
than  ever.  So  that  our  assemblies,  both  on  lectures 
and  Sabbaths,  were  surprisingly  increased,  and  now 
the  people  wanted  to  hear  us  of  tenor.  In  conse- 
quence of  which  a  public  lecture  was  proposed  to  be 
set  up  at  Dr.  Colman's  church,  near  the  midst  of  the 
town,  on  every  Tuesday  evening." 

In  reference  to  the  work  of  grace  which  was  con- 
nected with  Whitefield's  preaching  in  New  England, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Baron  Stow,  in  his  "  Centennial  Dis- 
course," says,  "  The  result,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  was 
a  powerful  revival,  such  as  New  England  had  never 
witnessed.  The  work  was  opposed  with  great  vehe- 
mence ;  and  no  impartial  reader  of  the  history  of  those 
extraordinary  scenes  can  question  that  much  of  the 
hostility  was  provoked  by  improprieties  of  both  speech 
and  action,  that  would  at  any  time  .be  offensive  to 
those  who  love  good  order  and  Christian  decorum. 
But  after  making  liberal  allowance  for  all  that  was 
truly  exceptionable,  it  is  cheerfully  admitted  by  the 

*  Dr.  Prince,  in  a  note,  here  says,  "  Though  people  were  then," 
in  the  time  of  the  earthquake,  "  generally  frightened,  and  many 
awakened  to  such  a  sense  of  their  duty  as  to  offer  themselves  to  our 
communion,  yet  very  few  came  to  me  then  under  deep  convictions 
of  their  unconverted  and  lost  condition,  in  comparison  of  what 
came  now.  Nor  did  those  who  came  to  me  then,  come  so  much 
with  the  inquiry,  '  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?'  as  to  signify 
they  had  such  a  sense  of  their  duty  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table 
that  they  flare  not  stay  away  any  longer." 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  193 

candid  Christian,  that  the  excitement  was,  in  the 
main,  the  product  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  its 
fruits  were  eminently  favorable  to  the  advancement 
of  true  religion.  A  torpid  community  was  aroused, 
as  by  the  trump  of  God,  from  its  long  and  heavy  slum- 
ber ;  ministers  and  people  were  converted  ;  the  style 
of  preaching,  and  the  tone  of  individual  piety  were 
improved  ;  a  cold,  cadaverous  formalism  gave  place 
to  the  living  energy  of  experimental  godliness ;  the 
doctrines  of  the  gospel  were  brought  out  from  their 
concealment,  and  made  to  reassert  their  claims  to  a 
cordial,  practical  credence,  and  all  the  interests  of 
truth  and  holiness  received  new  homage  from  regen- 
erated thousands." 

One  or  two  other  facts  connected  with  Whitefield's 
usefulness  in  New  England  are  too  important  to  be 
omitted.  During  this  visit  he  was  much  gratified  by 
an  interview  with  a  colored  man,  who  had  been  his 
chaise-driver  when  he  first  visited  Cambridge.  The 
negro  had  heard  him  preach  in  the  college  a  sermon 
especially  addressed  "to  those  who  labor  and  are 
heavy-laden."  It  took  such  a  hold  on  the  poor  man, 
that  he  repeated  it  in  the  kitchen  when  he  reached 
home.  Mr.  Cooper  of  Boston  was  so  well  satisfied, 
as  was  Whitefield  also,  with  his  account  of  his  con- 
version, that  he  was  admitted  to  the  Lord's  table. 

Another  "  brand  plucked  from  the  burning  "  was  a 
son  of  Mackintosh,  an  English  rebel,  who  had  been 
condemned  to  perpetual  imprisonment,  and  had  been 
allowed  by  George  the  First  to  settle  in  New  Eng- 
land. One  of  his  daughters,  a  lady  of  fortune,  had 
heard  Whitefield  preach  in  Dr.  Prince's  church  at 


194  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Boston,  and  had  been  won  by  the  word  to  Christ. 
She  was  soon  after  smitten  by  sickness,  and  ripened 
rapidly  for  heaven.  On  her  death-bed  she  cried  out 
for  her  "soul  friend"  Mr.  Whitefield;  but  checking 
her  own  impatience,  she  asked,  "  Why  should  I  do  so? 
He  is  gone  about  his  Master's  work,  and  in  a  little 
time  we  shall  meet  to  part  no  more."  The  distin- 
guished evangelist  had  a  very  high  opinion  of  her 
piety,  and  his  interest  in  her  was  increased  by  the 
fact  that  she  had  a  very  remarkable  escape  from  some 
ruffians  who  had  been  bribed  to  convey  her  and  her 
sister  to  Scotland,  that  their  uncle  might  seize  on  an 
estate  worth  a  thousand  pounds  a  year. 

There  were  at  this  time  not  less  than  twenty  min- 
isters in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston  who  unhesitat- 
ingly spoke  of  Whitefield  as  their  spiritual  father, 
directly  tracing  their  conversion  to  his  ministry.  Of 
one  of  these  we  have  an  account  by  Collins,  the  jour- 
nalist of  South  Reading.  Speaking  of  1741,  he  says, 
"  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  upon  our  Common  in  the 
open  air.  Mr.  Hobby  the  minister  went  with  the  mul- 
titude to  hear  him.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Hobby  after- 
wards remarked,  he  came  to  pick  a  hole  in  Mr.  White- 
field's  coat,  but  that  Whitefield  picked  a  hole  in  his 
heart.  Mr.  Hobby  afterwards  wrote  and  published 
a  defence  of  Mr.  Whitefield  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hench- 
man, the  minister  of  Lynn,  who  had  written  against 
him." 

The  letters  of  Whitefield,  during  his  journeys  of 
eleven  hundred  miles  in  New  England,  were  few  and 
brief;  but  they  clearly  indicated  that  at  this  time  he 
was  inclined  "  to  return  no  more  to  his  native  coun- 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  195 

try."  New  England,  notwithstanding  his  trials  there, 
had  evidently  won  his  heart,  and  for  a  time  almost 
weaned  him  from  Great  Britain.  When  he  left  it,  as 
he  was  now  about  to  do,  for  the  south,  he  wrote, 
"  God  only  knows  what  a  cross  it  was  to  me  to  leave 
dear  New  England  so  soon.  I  hope  death  will  not 
be  so  bitter  to  me  as  was  parting  with  my  friends. 
Glad  shall  I  be  to  be  prayed  thither  again  before  I  see 
my  native  land.  I  would  just  be  where  He  would 
have  me,  although  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth. 
I  am  now  hunting  for  poor  lost  sinners  in  these  ungos- 
pelized  wilds." 

Is  there  not  an  awfully  retributive  providence  con- 
nected with  the  rejection  of  the  gospel  and  its  minis- 
ters? Do  we  not  see  this  principle  at  work  in  the 
history  and  present  state  of  the  Jews ;  and  has  it  not 
often  appeared  also  in  the  history  of  Christianity? 
There  was  a  beautiful  village,  now  a  city,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, from  which  Whitefield  was  driven  with  such 
rancorous  abuse,  that  he  shook  off  the  dust  of  his  feet, 
and  proclaimed  that  the  Spirit  of  God  would  not 
visit  that  spot  till  the  last  of  those  persecutors  was 
dead.  The  good  man's  language  had  a  fearful  truth 
in  it,  though  he  was  not  divinely  gifted  with  the 
prophet's  inspiration.  A  consciousness  of  desertion 
paralyzed  the  energies  of  the  church ;  for  nearly  a 
century  it  was  nurtured  on  the  unwholesome  food  of 
unscriptural  doctrine.  In  the  very  garden  of  natural 
loveliness,  it  sat  like  a  heath  in  the  desert,  upon 
which  there  could  be  no  rain ;  and  not  till  that  whole 
generation  had  passed  from  the  earth,  did  Zion  appear 
there  in  her  beauty  and  strength. 


196  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LABORS  IN  NEW  YORK  AND  THE  MIDDLE  AND 

SOUTHERN    STATES. 

1740,  1741. 

WHITEFIELD  was  now  again  on  his  way  to  New 
York,  preaching  at  Rye  and  King's  Bridge  on  the 
road.  At  the  latter  place  he  was  met  by  several 
friends  from  the  city,  with  whom  he  pleasantly  talked, 
"and  found,"  he  says,  "an  inexpressible  satisfaction  in 
my  soul  when  I  arrived  at  the  house  of  my  very  dear 
friend  Mr.  Noble.  After  supper  the  Lord  filled  my 
heart,  and  gave  me  to  wrestle  with  him  for  New  York 
inhabitants  and  my  own  dear  friends."  He  was  also 
cheered  by  meeting  Mr.  Davenport  from  Long  Island, 
whose  labors  as  an  evangelist  were  then  exciting  much 
interest.  Here  too  he  met  with  a  violent  pamphlet 
published  against  him.  "  Met  also  with  two  volumes 
of  sermons  published  in  London  as  delivered  by  me, 
though  I  never  preached  on  most  of  the  texts.  But 
Satan  must  try  all  ways  to  bring  the  work  of  God 
into  contempt." 

On  the  morning  after  his  arrival,  Whitefield 
preached  in  Mr.  Pemberton's  meeting-house,  and  says 
concerning  the  service,  "  Never  saw  the  word  of  God 
fall  with  such  weight  in  New  York  before.  Two  or 
three  cried  out.  Mr.  Noble  could  scarce  refrain  him- 
self. And  look  where  I  would,  many  seemed  deeply 
wounded.  At  night  the  word  was  attended  with 
great  power.  One  cried  out;  and  the  Lord  enabled 


"** 

MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.     197 

me  at  the  latter  end  of  my  sermon  to  speak  with 
authority.  Alas,  how  vain  are  the  thoughts  of  men ! 
As  I  came  along  yesterday,  I  found  my  heart  some- 
what dejected,  and  told  Mr.  Noble  I  expected  but 
little  moving  in  New  York;  but  he  bid  me  'expect 
great  things  from  God/  and  likewise  told  me  of  sev- 
eral who  were,  as  he  hoped,  savingly  wrought  upon 
by  my  ministry  when  I  was  there  last." 

On  the  following  day  he  finished  his  answer  to 
the  pamphlet  already  referred  to,  and  says,  "God 
enabled  me  to  write  it  in  the  spirit  of  meekness." 
He  adds,  "Preached  twice  as  yesterday  to  very  crowd- 
ed auditories,  and  neither  time  without  power.  In 
the  evening  exercise  some  fainted,  and  the  Lord 
seemed  to  show  us  more  and  more  that  a  time  for 
favoring  New  York  was  near  at  hand.  Oh,  where- 
fore did  I  doubt?  Lord,  increase  my  faith." 

The  following  day,  November  2,  was  the  Sabbath. 
"  Preached  this  morning  with  freedom  and  some 
power,  but  was  much  dejected  before  the  evening  ser- 
mon. For  near  half  an  hour  before  I  left  Mr.  Noble's 
house,  I  could  only  lie  before  the  Lord,  and  say  I  was 
a  poor  sinner,  and  wonder  that  Christ  would  be  gra- 
cious to  such  a  wretch.  As  I  went  to  meeting  I  grew 
weaker  and  weaker,  and  when  I  came  into  the  pulpit 
I  could  have  chosen  to  be  silent  rather  than  speak. 
But  after  I  had  begun,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  gave  me 
freedom,  till  at  length  it  came  down  like  a  mighty 
rushing  wind,  and  carried  all  before  it.  Immediately 
the  whole  congregation  was  alarmed.  Shrieking, 
crying,  weeping,  and  wailing  were  to  be  heard  in 
every  corner  j  men's  hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  and 


198  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

many  falling  into  the  arms  of  their  friends.  My  soul 
was  carried  out  till  I  could  scarcely  speak  any  more. 
A  sense  of  God's  goodness  overwhelmed  me." 

After  narrating  two  or  three  pleasing  incidents  as 
to  the  effect  of  Ms  preaching  even  on  the  minds  of 
children,  and  describing  his  feelings  on  his  return 
home,  he  gives  an  account  of  the  wedding  of  two 
young  persons  who  were  going  as  his  assistants  to 
Georgia.  "Never,"  he  says,  "did  I  see  a  more  solemn 
wedding.  Jesus  Christ  was  called,  and  he  was  pres- 
ent in  a  remarkable  manner.  After  Mr.  Pemberton 
had  married  them,  I  prayed.  But  my  soul,  how  was 
it  enabled  to  wrestle  with  and  lay  hold  on  God!  I 
was  in  a  very  great  agony,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
so  remarkably  present,  that  most,  I  believe,  could  say, 
'  Surely  God  is  in  this  place.7  After  this,  divine  man- 
ifestations flowed  in  so  fast,  that  my  frail  tabernacle 
was  scarce  able  to  sustain  them.  My  dear  friends  sat 
round  me  on  the  bedsides.  I  prayed  for  each  of  them 
alternately  with  strong  cries,  and  pierced  by  the  eye 
of  faith  even  within  the  veil.  I  continued  in  this  con- 
dition for  about  half  an  hour,  astonished  at  my  own 
vileness  and  the  excellency  of  Christ,  then  rose  full  of 
peace  and  love  and  joy." 

On  Monday,  the  3d,  he  preached  both  morning 
and  afternoon  to  increasing  congregations,  and  says, 
"  There  was  a  great  and  gracious  melting  both  times, 
but  no  crying  out.  Nearly  £110  currency  were  col- 
lected for  the  orphans  ;  and  in  the  evening  many  came 
and  took  an  affectionate  leave.  About  seven  we  took 
boat;  reached  Staten  Island  about  ten,  greatly  re- 
freshed in  my  inner  man.  A  dear  Christian  friend 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.     199 

received  us  gladly,  and  we  solaced  ourselves  by  sing- 
ing and  praying.  About  midnight  retired  to  sleep, 
still  longing  for  that  time  when  I  shall  sleep  no 
more." 

On  Tuesday  he  preached  on  Staten  Island  from  a 
wagon,  to  three  or  four  hundred  people.  "  The  Lord 
came  among  them,"  and  several  inquired  after  the 
way  of  salvation.  Here  he  met  Gilbert  Tennent  and 
Mr.  Cross.  The  former  of  these  excellent  ministers 
had  recently  lost  his  wife,  and  though  he  was  ardently 
attached  to  her,  he  calmly  preached  her  funeral  ser- 
mon with  the  corpse  lying  before  him.  Tennent  had 
lately  been  preaching  in  New  Jersey  and  Maryland, 
and  had  a  delightful  account  to  give  his  friend  of  the 
progress  of  the  good  work.  Nor  was  the  account 
given  by  Mr.  Cross  of  less  interest.  After  sermon  he 
rode  to  Newark,  where  he  preached  till  dark,  as  he 
thought  with  but  little  good  effect.  "However,  at 
night  the  Lord  manifested  forth  his  glory ;  'for,  com- 
ing down  to  family  prayer  where  I  lodged,  and  per- 
ceiving many  young  men  around  me,  my  soul,  was,  as 
it  were,  melted  down  with  concern  for  them.  After 
singing,  I  gave  a  word  of  exhortation;  with  what 
power  none  can  fully  express  but  those  that  saw  it. 
Oh,  how  did  the  word  fall  like  a  hammer  and  like  a 
fire.  What  a  weeping  was  there!" 

We  must  stay  a  moment  to  give  a  fact  or  two 
in  reference  to  the  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  then  quite  a 
young  man,  who  two  or  three  years  before  had  been 
ordained  at  Newark,  and  whose  ministry  had  been 
attended  with  a  delightful  revival  the  year  preced- 
ing Whitefield's  visit.  During  the  period  of  this  re- 


200  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

vival,  the  neighboring  village  of  Elizabethtown  had 
been  remarkable  for  its  insensibility  ;  even  Whitefield 
had  preached  there,  "  and  not  a  single  known  conver- 
sion," says  Dr.  Stearns,  "  followed  his  ministrations." 
Afterwards  the  pastor,  the  well-known  Jonathan  Dick- 
inson, saw  happy  results  from  very  plain  preaching. 
Newark  caught  a  new  flame  from  its  neighboring  altar, 
and  Mr.  Burr,  who  had  lately  been  to  New  England 
in  quest  of  health,  had  heard  the  devoted  evangelist 
again  and  again,  and  invited  him  to  visit  his  flock, 
which  he  did  about  a  month  afterwards  with  happy 
results.  The  account  given  by  Mr.  Burr  of  White- 
field's  preaching  in  New  England  was  precisely  what 
we  should  expect  from  the  man  who  was  afterwards 
the  first  president  of  Princeton  college,  and  who,  four- 
teen years  after  this,  accompanied  his  eloquent  friend 
to  New  England,  "and  saw  at  Boston,  morning  after 
morning,  three  or  four  thousand  people  hanging  in 
breathless  silence  on  the  lips  of  the  preacher,  and 
weeping  silent  tears." 

The  Rev.  Stephen  Dodd  of  East  Haven,  Conn., 
relates  that  an  old  lady  told  him  that  when  Mr. 
Whitefield  came  to  preach  in  the  old  meeting-house  at 
Newark,  she  was  twelve  years  old,  and  as  he  entered 
the  pulpit  she  looked  at  him  with  distrust,  but  before 
he  got  through  his  prayers  herself  and  all  the  congre- 
gation were  melted  down,  and  the  sermon  filled  the 
house  with  groans  and  tears.  The  next  time  he  came, 
the  congregation  was  so  large  that  the  pulpit  window 
was  taken  out,  and  he  preached  through  the  opening 
to  the  people  in  the  burying-ground. 

On  Wednesday,  the  5th,  he  went  to  Baskinridge, 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.    201 

Mr.  Cross'  parish,  where  he  found  Mr.  Davenport, 
who,  according  to  appointment,  had  been  preaching  to 
about  three  thousand  people.  He  writes,  "  As  I  went 
along,  I  told  a  friend  my  soul  wept  for  them,  and  I 
was  persuaded  within  myself  that  the  Lord  would 
that  day  make  his  power  to  be  known  among  them. 
In  prayer,  I  perceived  my  soul  drawn  out,  and  a 
stirring  of  affections  among  the  people.  I  had  not 
discoursed  long  before  the  Holy  Ghost  displayed  his 
power.  In  every  part  of  the  congregation  somebody 
or  other  began  to  cry  out,  and  almost  all  melted  into 
tears.  This  abated  for  a  few  moments,  till  a  little 
boy  about  seven  or  eight  years  of  age  cried  out  ex- 
ceeding piteously  indeed,  and  wept  as  though  his  little 
heart  would  break.  Mr.  Cross  having  compassion  on 
him,  took  him  up  into  the  wagon,  which  so  affected 
me,  that  I  broke  from  my  discourse,  and  told  the  peo- 
ple the  little  boy  should  preach  to  them,  and  that  God, 
since  old  professors  would  not  cry  after  Christ,  had 
displayed  his  sovereignty,  and  out  of  an  infant's  mouth 
was  perfecting  praise.  God  so  blessed  this,  that  a 
universal  concern  fell  on  the  congregation  again. 
Fresh  persons  dropped  down  here  and  there,  and  the 
cry  increased  more  and  more." 

In  the  evening,  Gilbert  Tennent  preached  excel- 
lently in  Mr.  Cross'  barn,  two  miles  off.  His  subject 
was  the  necessity  and  benefit  of  spiritual  desertions,  a 
remarkable  subject,  as  has  been  said,  at  such  a  time, 
in  a  barn,  and  at  night.  "  A  great  commotion,"  says 
Whitefield,  "  was  soon  observed  among  the  hearers. 
I  then  gave  a  word  of  exhortation.  The  Lord's  pres- 
ence attended  it  in  a  surprising  manner.  One,  in 
9* 


202  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

about  six  minutes,  cried  out,  'He  is  come,  He  is  come!' 
and  could  scarcely  sustain  the  discovery  that  Jesus 
Christ  made  of  himself  to  his  soul.  Others  were  so 
earnest  for  a  discovery  of  the  Lord  to  their  souls,  that 
their  eager  crying  obliged  me  to  stop,  and  I  prayed 
over  them  as  I  saw  their  agonies  and  distress  increase. 
At  length  my  own  soul  was  so  full  that  I  retired,  and 
was  in  a  strong  agony  for  some  time,  and  wept  before 
the  Lord  under  a  deep  sense  of  my  own  vileness,  and 
the  sovereignty  and  greatness  of  God's  everlasting 
love.  Most  of  the  people  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
night  in  prayer  and  praise.  Two  or  three  young  min- 
isters spoke  alternately,  and  others  prayed  as  the  Lord 
gave  them  utterance." 

The  next  morning  Whitefield  exhorted,  sung,  and 
prayed  with  the  people  in  the  barn,  and  had  some  de- 
lightful conversation  with  a  lad  of  thirteen,  a  poor 
negro  woman,  and  several  others.  In  company  with 
several  Christian  friends,  he  then  rode  to  the  house  of 
Gilbert  Tennent  in  New  Brunswick.  Here  he  found 
letters  from  Savannah  saying  that  great  mortality  ex- 
isted in  the  neighborhood,  but  that  the  family  at  the 
orphan-house  continued  in  health,  and  that  a  minister 
was  about  coming  from  England  to  take  his  church  at 
Savannah.  "  This  last,"  says  he,  "  much  rejoiced  me, 
being  resolved  to  give  up  the  Savannah  living  as  soon 
as  I  arrived  in  Georgia.  A  parish  and  the  orphan- 
house  together  are  too  much  for  me ;  besides,  God  seems 
to  show  me  it  is  my  duty  to  evangelize,  and  not  to  fix 
in  any  particular  place."  Here  he  was  met  by  William 
Tennent  also,  and  after  much  conversation  and  prayer, 
it  was  settled  that  Gilbert  Tennent  should  go  to  Bos- 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.     203 

ton  to  carry  on  *  the  work  so  happily  begun  there. 
After  preaching,  exhortation,  and  prayer,  Whitefield 
went  with  Davenport  to  Trenton,  and  so  on  to  Phila- 
delphia. On  their  way,  they  were  twice  remarkably 
preserved  from  drowning  in  creeks  much  swollen  by 
the  rains ;  and  late  on  a  very  dark  Saturday  night 
arrived  in  the  city,  which  had  been  already  honored 
by  his  usefulness. 

On  the  following  day,  he  twice  preached  in  the 
house  which  his  friends  were  now  building  for  him, 
and  in  which  Gilbert  Tennent  labored  for  many  years 
with  great  success.  He  says,  "  It  is  one  hundred  feet 
long  and  seventy  feet  broad.  A  large  gallery  is  to 
be  erected  all  around  in  it.  Many  footsteps  of  Provi- 
dence have  been  visible  in  beginning  and  carrying  it  on. 
Both  in  the  morning  and  evening  God's  glory  filled 
the  house,  for  there  was  great  power  in  the  congrega- 
tion. The  roof  is  not  yet  up,  but  the  people  raised  a 
convenient  pulpit  and  boarded  the  bottom.  The  joy 
of  most  of  the  hearers  when  they  saw  me  was  inex- 
pressible. Between  services,  I  received  a  packet  of 
letters  from  England,  dated  in  March  last.  May  the 
Lord  heal,  and  bring  good  out  of  the  divisions  which 
at  present  seem  to  be  among  the  brethren  there.  God 
giving  me  freedom,  and  many  friends  being  in  the 
room,  I  kneeled  down  and  prayed  with  and  exhorted 
them  all.  But  Oh,  how  did  they  melt  under  both ;  my 
soul  was  much  rejoiced  to  look  round  on  them." 

A  fact  in  connection  with  the  building  of  this 
church  edifice  illustrates  the  practical  philosophy  of 
Dr.  Franklin.  Tennent  waited  on  him  for  aid  in  the 
erection  of  the  house,  which  was  cheerfully  afforded ; 


204  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  philosopher  was  asked  by  Tennent  as  to  the  best 
method  of  raising  the  necessary  funds,  who  instantly 
recommended  him  to  call  at  every  house  in  the  town 
to  solicit  help.  He  argued  thus  :  "  Many  are  really 
desirous  to  give,  and  will  be  glad  to  see  you  ;  others 
are  inclined  to  be  friendly,  and  will  give  if  they  are 
urged;  a  third  will  be  sure,  if  they  are  omitted,  to 
say  they  would  have  given  had  they  been  asked  ; 
and  a  fourth  class  will  give  you,  rather  than  have 
it  said  they  refused."  Tennent  acted  on  the  doc- 
tor's counsel,  and  the  funds  were  raised  without  diffi- 
culty. 

Two  instances  of  the  happy  influence  of  the  truth 
in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  in  connection  with  this 
visit,  must  be  given  from  "Whitefield's  own  pen.  The 
first  related  to  a  Mr.  Brockden,  a  lawyer  eminent  in 
•his  profession,  and  the  recorder  of  deeds  for  the  city. 
For  many  years  this  gentleman  had  been  distinguished 
for  Deism.  Whitefield  writes,  "In  his  younger  days 
he  had  some  religious  impressions,  but  going  into 
business,  the  cares  of  the  world  so  choked  the  good 
seed,  that  he  not  only  forgot  his  God  in  some  degree, 
but  at  length  began  to  doubt  of  and  to  dispute  his 
very  being.  In  this  state  he  continued  many  years, 
and  has  been  very  zealous  to  propagate  his  deistical, 
I  could  almost  say  atheistical  principles  among  moral 
men ;  but  he  told  me  he  never  endeavored  to  make 
proselytes  of  vicious,  debauched  people.  "When  I 
came  to  Philadelphia,  this  time  twelvemonth,  he  told 
me  he  had  not  so  much  as  a  curiosity  to  hear  me. 
But  a  brother  Deist,  his  choicest  friend,  pressed  him 
to  come  and  hear  me.  To  satisfy  his  curiosity,  he  at 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.  205 

length  complied  with  the  request.  I  preached  at  the 
court-house  stairs,  upon  the  conference  which  the  Lord 
had  with  Nicodemus.  I  had  not  spoken  much  before 
the  Lord  struck  his  heart.  '  For/  said  he, '  I  saw  your 
doctrine  tended  to  make  people  good.'  His  family 
knew  not  that  he  had  been  to  hear  me.  After  he 
came  home,  his  wife,  who  had  been  at  sermon,  came 
in  also,  and  wished  heartily  that  he  had  heard  me. 
He  said  nothing.  After  this,  another  of  his  family 
came  in,  repeating  the  same  wish;  and,  if  I  mistake 
not,  after  that  another ;  till  at  last,  being  unable  to 
refrain  any  longer,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  he  said, 
'  Why,  I  have  been  hearing  him ;'  and  then  expressed 
his  approbation.  Ever  since  he  has  followed  on  to 
know  the  Lord ;  and  I  verily  believe  Jesus  Christ 
has  made  himself  manifest  to  his  soul.  Though  up- 
wards of  threescore  years  old,  he  is  now,  I  believe, 
born  again  of  God.  He  is  as  a  little  child,  and  often, 
as  he  told  me,  receives  such  communications  from 
God,  when  he  retires  into  the  woods,  that  he  thinks 
he  could  die  a  martyr  for  the  truth." 

The  other  instance  was  that  of  the  captain  of  a 
ship,  "  as  great  a  reprobate,"  says  Whitefield,  "  as 
ever  I  heard  of."  This  man  used  to  go  on  board  the 
transport  ships,  and  offer  a  guinea  for  a  new  oath, 
that  he  might  have  the  honor  of  making  it.  "  To  the 
honor  of  God's  grace,"  says  our  evangelist,  "  let  it  be 
said,  he  is  now,  I  believe,  a  Christian;  not  only  re- 
formed, but  renewed.  The  effectual  stroke,  he  told 
me,  was  given  when  I  preached  last  spring  at  Penne- 
pack.  Ever  since  he  has  been  zealous  for  the  truth; 
stood  like  a  lamb  when  he  was  beaten,  and  in  danger 


206  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

of  being  murdered  by  some  of  my  opposers,  and,  in 
short,  shows  his  faith  by  his  works." 

The  stay  of  Mr.  Whitefield  in  Philadelphia  at  this 
time  was  about  a  week,  during  which  he  preached  in 
the  new  house  twice  every  day  to  large  and  deeply 
interested  congregations.  He  says,  "It. would  be 
almost  endless  to  recount  all  the  particular  instances 
of  God's  grace  which  I  have  seen  this  week  past. 
Many  that  before  were  only  convicted,  now  plainly 
proved  that  they  were  converted,  and  had  a  clear  evi- 
dence of  it  within  themselves.  My  chief  business  was 
now  to  build  up  and  to  exhort  them  to  continue  in  the 
grace  of  God.  Notwithstanding,  many  were  convicted 
almost  every  day,  and  came  to  me  under  the  greatest 
distress  and  anguish  of  soul.  Several  societies  are 
now  in  the  town,  not  only  of  men  and  women,  but  of 
little  boys  and  little  girls.  Being  so  engaged,  I  could 
not  visit  them  as  I  would,  but  I  hope  the  Lord  will 
raise  up  some  fellow-laborers,  and  that  elders  will  be 
ordained  in  every  place." 

Perhaps  no  man  was  ever  more  free  from  secta- 
rianism than  George  Whitefield.  It  is  true,  that  he 
was  ordained  a  clergyman  of  the  church  of  England, 
and  never  manifested  any  degree  of  reluctance  to 
officiate  within  its  walls ;  but  it  is  equally  true,  that 
the  vast  majority  of  his  sermons  were  delivered  in 
connection  with  other  bodies  of  Christians.  When 
he  was  once  preaching  from  the  balcony  of  the  court- 
house, Market-street,  Philadelphia,  he  delivered  an 
impressive  apostrophe :  "  Father  Abraham,  who  have 
you  in  heaven  ?  any  Episcopalians  ?"  "  No."  "  Any 
Presbyterians?"  "No."  "Any  Baptists?"  "No." 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES  207 

"  Have  you  any  Methodists,  Seceders,  or  Independents 
there  ?"  "  No,  no !"  "  Why,  who  have  you  there  ?" 
"  We  don't  know  those  names  here.  All  who  are 
here  are  Christians,  believers  in  Christ — men  who 
have  overcome  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  the 
word  of  his  testimony."  "  Oh,  is  that  the  case  ?  then 
God  help  me,  God  help  us  all,  to  forget  party  names, 
and  to  become  Christians,  in  deed  and  in  truth."  It 
might  be  well  for  the  different  bodies  of  Christians 
to  think  of  the  propriety  of  following  this  example  of 
the  holy  man.  The  peculiarities  of  each  Christian 
denomination  may  have  their  importance,  but  they 
ought  not  to  keep  good  men  in  a  state  of  separation, 
much  less  of  alienation  from  each  other. 

On  Monday,  November  17,  Whitefield  left  Phila- 
delphia. He  says,  "  Was  much  melted  at  parting  from 
my  dear  friends.  Had  it  much  impressed  upon  my 
mind,  that  I  should  go  to  England,  and  undergo  trials 
for  the  truth's  sake.  These  words,  '  The  Jews  sought 
to  stone  thee,  and  goest  thou  thither  again  ?'  with  our 
Lord's  answer,  have  been  for  some  time  lying  upon 
me ;  and  while  my  friends  were  weeping  round  me, 
St.  Paul's  words  darted  into  my  soul,  '  What  mean 
you  to  weep  and  break  my  heart?  I  am  willing  not 
only  to  be  bound,  but  to  die  for  the  Lord  Jesus.7 
After  fervent  prayer,  I  took  my  leave  of  some,  but 
being  to  preach  at  Gloucester  in  the  West  Jerseys, 
others  accompanied  me  in  boats  over  the  river.  We 
sung  as  we  sailed,  but  my  heart  was  low.  I  preached 
at  Gloucester,  but  found  myself  weighed  down,  and 
was  not  able  to  deliver  my  sermon  with  my  usual 
vigor.  However,  there  was  an  affecting  melting,  and 


208  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

several,  as  I  heard  afterwards,  who  had  been  in  bond- 
age before,  at  that  time  received  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost.  I  rode  on  in  company  with  several  to  Green- 
wich, and  preached  to  a  few,  with  scarce  any  power. 
In  the  evening  we  travelled  on  a  few  miles,  but  my 
body  was  more  and  more  out  of  order,  and  I  thought 
God  was  preparing  me  for  future  blessings.  It  is 
good  to  be  humbled.  I  am  never  better  than  when 
I  am  brought  to  lie  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  It  is  a 
certain  sign  God  intends  that  soul  a  greater  crown. 
Lord,  let  me  always  feel  myself  a  poor  sinner."  On 
Tuesday  he  preached  at  Pilesgrove  to  about  two  thou- 
sand people,  but  saw  only  a  few  affected.  "  At  night," 
he  says,  "  God  was  pleased  so  abundantly  to  refresh 
my  soul  as  to  make  me  forget  the  weakness  of  my 
body ;  I  prayed  and  exhorted  with  great  power  in  the 
family  where  I  lodged."  On  Wednesday,  at  Cohan- 
sey,  where  Gilbert  Tennent  had  prepared  the  way 
for  him,  he  says,  "  Preached  to  some  thousands  both 
morning  and  afternoon.  The  word  gradually  struck 
the  hearers,  till  the  whole  congregation  was  greatly 
moved,  and  two  cried  out  in  the  bitterness  of  their 
souls  after  a  crucified  Saviour,  and  were  scarcely 
able  to  stand.  My  soul  was  replenished  as  with  new 
wine,  and  life  and  power  flew  all  around  me."  At 
Salem,  on  the  20th,  he  preached  in  the  morning  at  the 
court-house,  and  in  the  afternoon  in  the  open  air  be- 
fore the  prison,  to  about  two  thousand  persons.  "  Both 
times  God  was  with  us."  On  Friday,  November  21, 
he  got  with  some  difficulty  to  Newcastle,  where  he 
preached  in  the  court-house,  and  "  observed  some  few 
affected,  and  some  few  scoffing."  Here  he  was  joined 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.    209 

by  Mr.  Charles  Tennent,  who  had  lately  married  a 
young  lady  awakened  under  Whitefield's  ministry. 
They  went  on  to  White  Clay  creek,  "  and  God,"  says 
he,  "  was  pleased  to  appear  for  me  in  an  extraordinary 
manner.  There  were  many  thousands  waiting  to  hear 
the  word.  I  have  not  seen  a  more  lovely  sight.  I 
sang  the  twenty-third  psalm,  and  these  words  gave  my 
soul  unspeakable  comfort : 

" '  In  presence  of  my  spiteful  foes, 
He  does  my  table  spread.' 

"  The  Lord  Jesus  assisted  me  in  preaching.  The 
melting  soon  began,  and  the  power  increased  more 
and  more,  till  the  greatest  part  of  the  congregation 
was  exceedingly  moved.  Several  cried  out  in  differ- 
ent parts>  and  others  were  to  be  seen  wringing  their 
hands  and  weeping  bitterly.  The  stir  was  ten  times 
greater  than  when  I  was  here  last."  At  Fagg's  Manor, 
on  Saturday  afternoon,  he  preached  "to  many  thou- 
sands, and  God  was  pleased  mightily  to  own  his  word. 
There  was  a  wondrous  powerful  moving,  but  it  did 
not  rise  to  such  a  degree  as  when  I  preached  here 
last  spring.  I  was  taken  ill  after  preaching."  After 
still  farther  labors,  he  retired  to  rest,  and  he  says, 
"  The  Lord  gave  me  sweet  sleep,  and  in  the  morning  I 
arose  with  my  natural  strength  much  renewed."  This 
was  the  Sabbath,  and  he  preached  at  Nottingham  "  to 
a  large  congregation,  who  seemed  in  no  wise  to  re- 
gard the  rain,  so  they  might  be  watered  with  the  dew 
of  God's  blessing." 

On  the  following  afternoon,  at  Bohemia,  in  Mary- 
land, he  says,  "  Preached  to  about  two  thousand,  and 
have  not  seen  a  more  solid  melting,  I  think,  since  my 


210  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

arrival.  Some  scoffers  stood  on  the  outside,  but  the 
Holy  Spirit  enabled  me  to  lay  the  terrors  of  the  Lord 
before  them,  and  they  grew  more  serious.  My  soul 
much  rejoiced  in  the  Lord  to  see  salvation  brought  to 
Maryland."  On  Tuesday,  November  25,  "came  to 
Reedy  Island,  and  had  the  wonderful  presence  of  God 
in  the  assembly  in  the  afternoon.  Several  of  my  dear 
Philadelphia  friends  came  to  take  their  last  farewell." 
On  Wednesday,  Saturday,  and  Sunday,  he  preached 
again.  "  The  Lord  was  with  us  every  time.  I  was 
greatly  delighted  to  see  the  captains  of  the  ships,  and 
their  respective  crews,  come  constantly  to  hear  the 
word  of  God  on  shore,  and  join  with  us  in  religious 
exercises  on  board." 

On  December  1,  when  they  sailed  from  Reedy 
Island  to  Charleston,  he  wrote  in  his  journal,  "But 
before  I  go  on,  stop,  0  my  soul,  and  look  back  a  little 
on  the  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for  thee  dur- 
ing this  excursion.  I  think  it  is  now  the  seventy- 
fifth  day  since  I  arrived  at  Rhode  Island.  My  body 
was  then  weak,  but  the  Lord  has  much  renewed  its 
strength.  I  have  been  enabled  to  preach,  I  think,  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  times  in  public,  besides  ex- 
horting very  frequently  in  private.  I  have  travelled 
upwards  of  eight  hundred  miles,  and  gotten  upwards 
of  £700  sterling  in  goods,  provisions,  and  money  for 
my  poor  orphans.  Never  did  God  vouchsafe  me  such 
great  assistances.  Never  did  I  perform  my  journeys 
with  so  little  fatigue,  or  see  such  a  continuance  of  the 
divine  presence  in  the  congregations  to  whom  I  have 
preached.  All  things  concur  to  convince  me  that 
America  is  to  be  my  chief  scene  for  action." 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.    211 

In"  about  eight  days,  he  arrived  at  Charleston, 
where  he  found  there  had  recently  been  a  large  fire, 
and  to  improve  the  sad  event  he  preached  a  sermon, 
and  passed  on  to  his  own  home,  where  he  found  all 
well,  and  where  he  made  arrangements  for  his  voyage 
to  England,  leaving  on  the  29th  of  December.  On 
that  day  he  narrowly  escaped  death.  A  laborer  was 
walking  behind  him  with  a  gun  under  his  arm,  which 
went  off  unawares  ;  happily  its  muzzle  was  towards 
the  ground,  "  otherwise,"  says  Whitefield,  "  I  and  one 
of  my  friends,  in  all  probability,  should  have  been 
killed  ;  for  we  were  directly  before,  and  not  above  a 
yard  or  two  distant  from  it.  How  ought  we  to  live 
in  such  a  state  as  we  would  not  fear  to  die  in  ;  for  in 
the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death !"  In  the  evening  he 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  as  pastor  of  Savannah. 

On  Mr.  Whitefield's  arrival  at  Charleston,  in  com- 
pany with  two  gentlemen  named  Bryan,  who  had  been 
called  to  suifer  persecution  for  Christ's  sake,  he  had 
the  happiness  of  meeting  his  brother,  the  captain  of  a 
vessel  from  England,  who  gave  him  much  interesting 
intelligence  of  the  Christians  in  that  country.  Com- 
mencing with  the  Sabbath,  he  preached  twice  every 
day,  in  addition  to  expounding  the  Scriptures  almost 
every  evening,  and  expresses  his  gratitude  for  divine 
assistance.  But  though  he  had  much  to  rejoice  in,  he 
had  also  more  than  one  source  of  sorrow.  Some  pro- 
fessors of  religion,  of  whom  he  had  hoped  well,  had 
fallen  away,  and  not  a  few  of  his  enemies  were  even 
more  enraged  than  formerly.  Hugh  Bryan  had  writ- 
ten a  letter,  in  which,  among  other  matters,  "  it  was 
hinted  that  the  clergy  break  their  canons."  At  the 


212  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

request  of  Jonathan  Bryan,  Whitefield  had  corrected 
it  for  the  press,  and  it  was  published  while  he  was 
now  in  the  city.  Hugh  Bryan  was  apprehended,  and 
on  his  examination,  being  asked,  frankly  confessed 
that  Whitefield  had  corrected  and  made  some  altera- 
tions in  it.  Writing  on  January  10,  he  says,  "  This 
evening  a  constable  came  to  me  with  the  following 
warrant : 

" '  South  Carolina  SS.     By  B W— ,  etc. 

Whereas  I  have  received  information  upon  oath  that 
George  Whitefield,  Clerk,  hath  made  and  composed  a 
false,  malicious,  scandalous,  and  infamous  Libel  against 
the  Clergy  of  this  Province,  in  contempt  of  His  Majesty 
and  His  Laws,  and  against  the  King's  Peace :  These 
are  therefore,  in  His  Majesty's  Name,  to  charge  and 
command  you  and  each  of  you  forthwith  to  apprehend 
the  said  George  Whitefield,  and  to  bring  him  before 
Me  to  answer  the  premises.  Hereof  fail  not,  at  your 
peril.  And  for  your  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  and 
each  of  your  sufficient  Warrant.  Given  under  my 
hand  and  seal  this  tenth  day  of  January,  in  the  four- 
teenth year  of  His  Majesty's  Reign,  Anno  Domini  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty  [one.] 

"<B W ."; 

Whitefield  gave  security  to  appear  by  his  attorney 
at  the  next  quarter  sessions,  under  penalty  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  proclamation  money.  "  Blessed  be  God," 
he  says  in  his  journal,  "  for  this  further  honor.  My 
soul  rejoices  in  it.  I  think  this  may  be  called  perse- 
cution. I  think  it  is  for  righteousness'  sake."  The 
next  morning  he  preached  on  Herod  sending  the  wise 
men  to  find  out  Christ,  professing  a  desire  to  worship 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.  213 

him,  but  intending  to  kill  him  ;  persecution  under  pre- 
tence of  religion,  being  his  theme.  The  afternoon  ser- 
mon was  on  the  murder  of  Naboth,  from  which  he  dis- 
coursed on  the  abuse  of  power  by  men  in  authority.  He 
says,  "  My  hearers,  as  well  as  myself,  made  the  appli- 
cation. It  was  pretty  close."  No  doubt  it  was.  In 
the  evening  he  expounded  the  narrative  of  Orpah  and 
Ruth,  and  exhorted  his  hearers  to  follow  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  though  his  cause  be  never  so  much  per- 
secuted and  spoken  against. 

On  the  following  Thursday,  he  received  several 
highly  gratifying  letters  from  his  friends  at  Boston. 
Mr.  Secretary  Willard  said  to  him,  "  Divers  young 
men  in  this  town,  who  are  candidates  for  the  ministry, 
have  been  brought  under  deep  convictions  by  your 
preaching,  and  are  carried  off  from  the  foundation  of 
their  false  hopes  to  rest  only  upon  Christ  for  salva- 
tion." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper  wrote,  "  I  can  inform  you 
that  there  are  many  abiding  proofs  that  you  did  not 
run  in  vain,  and  labor  in  vain  among  us  in  this  place. 
I  can  only  say  now  in  general,  some  have  been  awak- 
ened who  were  before  quite  secure,  and  I  hope  a  good 
work  begun  in  them.  Others,  who  had  been  under 
religious  impressions,  are  now  more  earnestly  pressing 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  many  of  the  children 
of  God  are  stirred  up  to  give  diligence  for  the  full 
assurance  of  faith.  There  is  a  greater  flocking  to  all 
the  lectures  in  the  town,  and  the  people  show  such  a 
disposition  to  the  new  Tuesday  evening  lecture,  that 
our  large  capacious  house  cannot  receive  all  that 
come.  I  am  sure  your  visit  to  us  has  made  a  large 


214  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

addition  to  the  prayers  that  are  going  up  for  you  in 
one  place  and  another,  and  I  hope  also  unto  the  jew- 
els that  are  to  make  up  your  crown  in  the  day  of  the 
Lord." 

In  addition  to  these  statements,  Mr.  Welch,  a  pious 
merchant,  wrote,  "I  fear  I  am  tedious,  but  I  cannot 
break  off  till  I  just  mention,  to  the  glory  of  the  grace 
of  God,  and  for  your  comfort  and  encouragement,  the 
success  your  ministry  of  late  has  had  among  us.  Im- 
pressions made  seem  to  be  abiding  on  the  minds  of 
many.  The  doctrines  of  grace  seem  to  be  more  the 
topic  of  conversation  than  ever  I  knew  them.  Nay, 
religious  conversation  seems  to  be  almost  fashionable, 
and  almost  every  one  seems  disposed  to  hear  or  speak 
of  the  things  of  God.  Multitudes  flock  to  the  evening 
lecture,  though  it  has  sometimes  been  the  worst  of 
weather.  Ministers  seem  to  preach  with  more  life, 
and  the  great  auditories  seem  to  hear  with  solemn 
attention,  and  I  hope  our  Lord  Jesus  is  getting  to 
himself  the  victory  over  the  hearts  of  many  sinners." 

These,  and  other  letters  of  a  similar  character, 
filled  the  heart  of  Whitefield  with  grateful  pleasure  ; 
and  he  went  on  preaching  and  enjoying  the  society  of 
his  friends  till  Friday,  January  16.  He  says,  "  I  never 
received  such  generous  tokens  of  love,  I  think,  from 
any  people  before,  as  from  some  in  Charleston.  They 
so  loaded  me  with  sea-stores,  that  I  sent  many  of  them 
to  Savannah."  He  now  went  on  board,  and  was  fully 
engaged  in  preparations  for  the  voyage,  which  how- 
ever was  not  entered  on  till  the  24th.  On  that  day 
the  Minerva  sailed  over  Charleston  bar,  and  after  a 
generally  pleasant  voyage,  they  landed  at  Falmouth, 


MIDDLE  AND  SOUTHERN  STATES.          215 

March  11.  "  This,"  says  he,  "  was  a  profitable  voyage 
to  my  soul,  because  of  my  having  had  many  sweet  op- 
portunities for  reading,  meditation,  and  prayer." 

The  impartiality  of  history  requires  us,  however 
reluctantly,  here  to  notice  the  separation  which  to 
some  extent  now  took  place  between  Whitefield,  and 
his  old  friends  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley. 
Their  mutual  attachment  in  early  life  we  have  already 
seen,  as  also  Whitefield's  anxietyln  Georgia  to  defend 
Mr.  John  Wesley's  conduct  against  those  who  opposed 
him.  Impartial  observers,  however,  after  a  while  be- 
gan to  remark,  that  on  some  doctrinal  points,  espec- 
ially on  that  of  predestination,  a  difference  was  spring- 
ing up.  On  his  passage  to  England,  February  1, 1741, 
Whitefield  thus  wrote  to  Mr.  Charles  Wesley  :  "  My 
dear,  dear  brethren,  why  did  you  throw  out  the  bone 
of  contention?  Why  did  you  print  that  sermon 
against  predestination?  Why  did  you  in  particular, 
my  dear  brother  Charles,  affix  your  hymn,  and  join  in 
putting  out  your  late  hymn-book  ?  How  can  you  say 
you  will  not  dispute  with  me  about  election,  and  yet 
print  such  hymns?  and  your  brother  sent  his  sermon 
against  election,  to  Mr.  Garden  and  others  in  Amer- 
ica. Do  not  you  think,  my  dear  brethren,  I  must  be 
as  much  concerned  for  truth,  or  what  I  think  truth, 
as  you?  God  is  my  judge,  I  always  was,  and  hope  I 
always  shall  be  desirous  that  you  may  be  preferred 
before  me.  But  I  must  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
and  that  I  cannot  now  do,  without  speaking  of  elec- 
tion." He  then  tells  Mr.  Charles  Wesley,  that  in 
Christmas-week  he  had  written  an  answer  to  his 
brother's  sermon,  "  which,"  says  he,  "  is  now  printing 


216  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

at  Charleston ;  another  copy  I  have  sent  to  Boston, 
and  another  I  now  bring  with  me,  to  print  in  London. 
If  it  occasion  a  strangeness  between  us,  it  shall  not  be 
my  fault.  There  is  nothing  in  my  answer  exciting  to 
it,  that  I  know  of.  0,  my  dear  brethren,  my  heart 
almost  bleeds  within  me.  Methinks  I  could  be  will- 
ing to  tarry  here  on  the  waters  for  ever,  rather  than 
come  to  England  to  oppose  you." 

Dr.  Whitehead,  in  his  "  Life  of  John  Wesley,"  has 
very  wisely  said,  "  Controversy  almost  always  injures 
the  Christian  temper,  much  more  than  it  promotes  the 
interests  of  speculative  truth.  On  this  question  a 
separation  took  place  between  Mr.  Wesley  and  Mr. 
Whitefield,  so  far  as  to  have  different  places  of  wor- 
ship ;  and  some  warm  and  tart  expressions  dropped 
from  each.  But  their  good  opinion  of  each  other's 
integrity  and  usefulness,  founded  on  long  and  intimate 
acquaintance,  could  not  be  injured  by  such  a  difference 
of  sentiment ;  and  their  mutual  affection  was  only  ob- 
scured by  a  cloud  for  a  season." 

The  friendship  between  Mr.  Whitefield  and  the 
Messrs.  Wesley  was  very  much  increased  and  perpet- 
uated by  the  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  Wesley.  This  very 
extraordinary  lady,  whose  original  name  was  Gwinne, 
was  equally  distinguished  for  her  beauty,  talents,  and 
piety.  She  had  a  very  cordial  regard  for  Mr.  White- 
field,  who  as  cordially  reciprocated  it.  She  was  mar- 
ried when  the  controversy  among  these  eminent  men 
was  at  its  height,  and  stipulated  that  she  should 
always  be  allowed  to  hear  the  preaching  of  Whitefield 
and  his  friends.  In  her  latter  years  especially,  and 
she  lived  till  ninety-six,  she  expressed  her  pleasure  in 


IN  ENGLAND.  217 

the  belief  that  she  promoted  the  continuance  of  that 
endearing  intercourse  which  subsisted  between  White- 
field  and  her  husband.  She  softened  all  parties,  and 
was  on  all  occasions  a  blessed  peacemaker. 

One  fact  relating  to  this  eminently  excellent 
woman  may  be  mentioned.  She  was  nearly  twenty 
years  younger  than  her  husband,  and  four  years  after 
her  marriage,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  she  was 
seized  with  small-pox,  of  which  at  that  time  her  eldest 
child  died.  She  lay  twenty-two  days  in  imminent 
danger  of  death,  and  when  she  recovered  she  was  so 
much  altered  in  features  that  no  one  could  recognize 
her  ;  but  never  did  woman  before  lose  her  beauty 
with  go  little  regret.  She  used  sportively  to  say,  that 
the  change  in  her  appearance  "  afforded  great  satis- 
faction to  her  dear  husband,  who  was  glad  to  see  her 
look  so  much  older,  and  better  suited  to  be  his  com- 
panion." 

On  Whitefield's  arrival  at  Falmouth,  he  immedi- 
ately set  off  in  a  post-chaise  to  London,  in  order  to 
preach  on  the  following  Sabbath.  But  he  now  found 
occasion  for  all  the  patience  he  had  acquired.  He 
had,  he  says,  "  written  two  well-meant,  though  ill- 
judged  letters  against  England's  two  great  favorites, 
'  The  Whole  Duty  of  Man,'  and  Archbishop  Tillotson, 
who,  I  said,  knew  no  more  about  religion  than  Moham- 
ined.  The  Moravians  had  made  inroads  on  our  socie- 
ties ;"  besides  which,  the  controversy  with  the  Messrs. 
Wesley  injured  him.  His  congregations  on  the  Sab- 
bath were  still  large,  but  on  week-days  he  had  not 
more  than  two  or  three  hundred  hearers.  He  says, 
"  Instead  of  having  thousands  to  attend  me,  scarcely 

WhitefieU.  1 0 


218  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

one  of  my  spiritual  children  come  to  see  me  from 
morning  to  night.  Once,  on  Kennington  .Common,  I 
had  not  above  a  hundred  to  hear  me." 

Even  this  was  not  all..  He  says,  "  One  that  got 
some  hundreds  of  pounds  by  my  sermons,  refused  to 
print  for  me  any  more.  And  others  wrote  to  me,  that 
God  would  destroy  me  in  a  fortnight,  and  that  my  fall 
was  as  great  as  Peter's."  Still  other  sorrows  attended 
him.  He  writes,  "  I  was  much  embarrassed  in  my  out- 
ward circumstances.  A  thousand  pounds  I  owed  for 
the  orphan-house.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
drawn  on  Mr.  Seward,  [who  was  now  dead,]  were  re- 
turned upon  me.  I  was  also  threatened  to  be  arrested 
for  two  hundred  pounds  more."  Besides  all  this,  he 
had  "  a  family  of  one  hundred  persons  to  be  maintain- 
ed, four  thousand  miles  off,  in  the  dearest  part  of  his 
majesty's  dominions."  He  now  began  to  preach  in 
Moorfields  on  week-days,  under  one  of  the  trees ; 
where  he  saw  numbers  of  his  spiritual  children  run- 
ning by  him  without  looking  at  him,  and  some  of  them 
putting  their  fingers  in  their  ears,  that  they  might  not 
hear  one  word  he  said.  "  A  like  scene,"  he  says, 
"  opened  at  Bristol,  where  I  was  denied  preaching  in 
the  house  I  had  founded."  It  was  the  Kingswood 
school-house,  built  for  the  children  of  the  colliers. 

But  Whitefield  could  not  long  be  kept  down.  His 
friends  built  a  new  house  and  opened  a  new  school  at 
Kingswood.  Some  "  free-grace  dissenters,"  as  Gillies 
calls  them,  procured  the  loan  of  a  building  lot  in  Lon- 
don, on  which,  as  we  have  already  seen,  they  built  the 
Tabernacle.  Here  his  congregations  immediately  in- 
creased, and  he  addressed  them  with  his  usual  power 


IN  ENGLAND.  219 

and  success.  Invitations  soon  poured  in  from  the 
country,  and  even  from  places  where  he  had  never 
been.  At  a  common  near  Braintree,  in  Essex,  he  had 
more  than  ten  thousand  hearers,  and  at  many  other 
places  congregations  were  large  and  much  affected. 
"  Sweet,"  says  he,  "  was  the  conversation  which  I  had 
with  several  ministers  of  Christ."  Soon  again  did  he 
triumph,  even  in  England. 

Among  the  men  who  were  now  invited  to  aid,  and 
who  rendered  important  assistance  to  Whitefield  in 
his  houses  of  worship  in  London  and  Bristol,  as  well 
as  in  his  itinerant  labors,  was  Howel  Harris,  a  native 
of  Wales,  a  gentleman,  and  a  magistrate,  to  whom  we 
have  already  referred.  His  name  in  Wales  is  yet  "a 
household  word,"  and  his  labors  form  a  part  of  the 
history  of  Welsh  Calvinistic  Methodism.  As  soon  as 
he  had  embraced  the  gospel  for  himself,  he  became 
intensely  solicitous  respecting  the  condition  of  his 
neighbors.  The  scenes  of  profligacy  and  vice  which 
everywhere  presented  themselves  burdened  his  heart, 
and  he  became  anxious  to  be  actively  employed  in 
removing  evil  and  doing  good.  He  determined  on 
taking  orders  in  the  church  of  England,  and  accord- 
ingly entered  St.  Mary's  Hall,  in  Oxford  university ; 
but  shocked  at  the  dissolute  habits  of  the  collegians, 
and  finding  what  were  called  his  methodistical  views 
were  in  the  way  of  his  ordination,  he  returned  to 
Wales,  and  began  to  evangelize  its  towns  and  villages. 
Wherever  there  was  an  opening,  there  he  went,  and 
preached  Christ  to  the  people  ;  and  although  defam- 
ed and  persecuted,  he  manfully  prosecuted  his  work, 
and  thousands  were  by  his  agency  brought  to  repent- 


220  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ance.  He  and  Mr.  Whitefield  were  kindred  spirits, 
moved  by  the  same  impulses,  and  pursuing  the  same 
course.  Mr.  Whitefield  spoke  of  him  as  " '  a  burning 
and  shining  light,'  a  barrier  against  profaneness  and 
immorality,  and  an  indefatigable  promoter  of  the  true 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  For  these  years  he  has  preach- 
ed almost  twice  a  day,  for  three  or  four  hours  together. 
He  has  been  in  seven  counties,  and  has  made  it  his 
business  to  go  to  wakes  and  fairs  to  turn  people  from 
their  lying  vanities.  He  has  been  made  tfte  subject 
of  numbers  of  sermons,  has  been  threatened  with  pub- 
lic prosecutions,  and  had  constables  sent  to  apprehend 
him.  But  God  has  blessed  him  with  inflexible  cour- 
age ;  strength  has  been  communicated  to  him  from 
above,  and  he  still  goes  on  from  conquering  to  con- 
quer. God  has  greatly  blessed  his  pious  endeavors  ; 
many  call,  and  own  him  as  their  spiritual  father,  and 
would,  I  believe,  lay  down  their  lives  for  his^sake." 

In  the  year  1759,  when  England  was  threatened 
with  a  French  invasion,  Mr.  Harris  became  a  captain 
in  the  Brecknockshire  militia,  and  into  whatever  place 
in  England  the  regiment  was  ordered,  he  uniformly 
began  to  preach,  and  was  the  means  of  introducing 
the  gospel  into  many  ignorant  and  depraved  districts. 
Thus  an  unusual  act  and  an  undesirable  office  were 
overruled  to  doing  much  good.  When  the  regiment 
was  disbanded,  he  again  regularly  entered  on  his  min- 
isterial duties  with  all  his  former  zeal  and  activity. 
In  a  word,  he  may  justly  be  regarded  the  evangelist 
of  Wales. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  spirit  of  the  energetic 
ministers  of  Christ  in  those  days,  we  quote  a  fact  or 


IN  ENGLAND.  221 

two  from  the  life  of  Rowland  Hill ;  the  more  readily 
as  Howel  Harris  is  the  principal  subject.  In  1774, 
four  years  after  the  death  of  Whitefield,  Mr.  Hill 
travelled  through  Wales,  preaching  three  or  four 
times  every  day ;  many  conversions  took  place,  which 
greatly  sustained  him  under  an  attack  of  illness  ;  and 
led  to  the  remark  in  his  "  Journal,"  "  My  body  quite 
weak,  but  my  soul  was  refreshed."  "A  like  exam- 
ple," says  Sidney,  one  of  the  biographers  of  Hill,  "had 
been  previously  before  his  eyes  in  the  case  of  Howel 
Harris,  one  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  energetic  followers, 
who  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  powers  of  body  and 
mind.  Harris  used  to  relate  of  himself,  that  being 
once  on  a  journey  through  "Wales,  he  was  subjected  to 
great  temptation  to  desert  his  Master's  cause,  when 
he  said,  '  Satan,  I  '11  match  thee  for  this ;'  and  '  so  I 
did/  he  used  to  add ;  'for  I  had  not  ridden  many  miles 
before  I  came  to  a  revel,  where  there  was  a  show  of 
mountebanks,  which  I  entered,  and  just  as  they  were 
commencing,  I  jumped  into  the  midst  of  them  and 
cried  out,  '  Let  us  pray,'  which  so  thunderstruck  them 
that  they  listened  to  me  quietly,  while  I  preached  to 
them  a  most  tremendous  sermon,  that  frightened  many 
of  them  home.'  Mr.  Hill  greatly  delighted  in  this 
anecdote,  and  often  said  that  amidst  somewhat  similar 
scenes,  he  had  been  enabled  successfully  to  attack  the 
kingdom  of  Satan." 


222  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

FIRST  AND  SECOND  VISITS  TO  SCOTLAND— LABORS 

IN  ENGLAND  AND  WALES. 

1740-1744. 

WE  have  seen  the  spirit  in  which  Mr.  Whitefield 
returned  to  London,  and  the  cool  manner  in  which  he 
was  too  generally  received.  It  is  painful  to  say  that 
this  coldness  was  not  confined  to  enemies  of  the 
truth ;  it  appeared  in  some  degree  in  eminent  dissent- 
ing ministers,  as  Watts  and  Bradbury,  Barker,  and 
even,  to  some  extent,  Doddridge.  A  plan  had  a  few 
years  before  been  agitated  to  restore  the  dissenters 
to  the  church,  usually  called  the  Comprehension  scheme, 
and  assuredly,  under  the  circumstances,  friendship 
with  Whitefield  was  by  no  means  favorable  to  such  a 
plan  being  accomplished,  though  it  was  at  this  period 
greatly  desired  by  many  of  both  parties.  Still,  how- 
ever, good  was  done ;  Whitefield  preached,  and  God 
was  glorified.  More  union  between  Christians  in  ad- 
vancing the  cause  of  Christ  would  have  been  exceed- 
ingly desirable,  but  even  the  want  of  this  was  not 
permitted  to'  stay  the  progress  of  this  man  of  God. 

One  of  the  most  popular  and  useful  ministers  em- 
ployed by  Whitefield  and  his  friends  at  this  time  was 
John  Cennick,  the  author  of  two  well-known  hymns, 
beginning, 

"  Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness ;" 
"Jesus,  my  all,  to  heaven  is  gone." 


IN  ENGLAND.  223 

He  was  the  preacher  who,  in  Ireland,  discoursed  from 
the  text,  "  Ye  shall  find  the  babe  wrapped  in  swad- 
dling clothes,"  which  gave  occasion  for  the  Method- 
ists in  that  country  to  be  called  "  Swaddlers."  The 
parents  of  this  excellent  man  were  Quakers,  who  had 
been  imprisoned  in  Reading  jail  for  the  maintenance 
of  their  religious  principles.  This  persecution  re- 
duced them  from  respectability  to  want,  so  that,  like 
John  Bunyan,  they  were  forced  to  make  shoe-laces  in 
prison  for  their  support. 

The  conversion  of  the  son  was  very  remarkable. 
His  first  deep  and  lasting  religious  convictions  flashed 
upon  his  mind  like  lightning  from  heaven,  while  walk- 
ing in  the  crowds  of  Cheapside,  in  London.  The 
effects  were  soon  manifested ;  he  became  a  new  man, 
pursuing  a  new  course,  and  entering  on  a  new  work. 
His  ministry  was  very  efficient,  his  views  of  truth 
were  evangelical,  his  public  speaking  popular,  his  zeal 
so  great  as  sometimes  to  lead  him  to  preach  six  times 
in  one  day — all  which  labors  were  followed  with  abun- 
dant success. 

Mr.  Cennick  was  rather  below  the  middle  stature, 
of  a  fair  countenance,  and  though  by  no  means  robust 
in  health,  he  knew  little  of  timidity.  The  spirit  in 
which  he  discharged  his  ministry  may  be  seen  in  a 
letter  he  wrote  to  a  friend :  "  We  sang  a  hymn,  and 
then  the  devil  led  on  his  servants;  they  began  beat- 
ing a  drum,  and  then  made  fires  of  gunpowder :  at 
first  the  poor  flock  was  startled  ;  but  while  God  gave 
me  power  to  speak  encouragingly  to  them,  they  waxed 
bolder,  and  very  few  moved.  The  mob  then  fired 
guns  over  the  people's  heads,  and  began  to  play  a 


224  GEOKGE  WHITEFIELD. 

water  engine  upon  brother  Harris  and  myself,  till  we 
were  wet  through.  They  also  played  an  engine  upon 
us  with  hog's-wash  and  grounds  of  beer-barrels,  and 
covered  us  with  muddy  water  from  a  ditch  ;  they 
pelted  us  with  eggs  and  stones,  threw  baskets  of  dust 
over  us,  and  fired  their  guns  so  close  to  us  that  our 
faces  were  black  with  the  powder;  but,  in  nothing 
terrified,  we  remained  praying.  I  think  I  never  saw 
or  felt  so  great  a  power  of  God  as  was  there.  In  the 
midst  of  the  confused  multitude,  I  saw  a  man  laboring 
above  measure,  earnest  to  fill  the  buckets  with  water 
to  throw  upon  us.  I  asked  him,  '  What  harm  do  we 
do  ?  Why  are  you  so  furious  against  us  ?  We  only 
come  to  tell  you  that  Christ  loved  you,  and  died  for 
you.'  He  stepped  back  a  little  for  room,  and  threw  a 
bucket  of  water  in  my  face.  When  I  had  recovered 
myself,  I  said, '  My  dear  man,  if  God  should  so  pour 
his  wrath  upon  you,  what  would  become  of  you  ?  Yet 
I  tell  you  that  Christ  loves  you.'  He  threw  away 
the  bucket,  let  fall  his  trembling  hands,  and  looked 
as  pale  as  death ;  he  then  shook  hands  with  me,  and 
parted  from  me,  I  believe  under  strong  convictions." 

Mr.  Cennick  had  heretofore  labored  with  White- 
field  and  Wesley,  but  now  adhered  to  the  former,  and 
labored  very  successfully  in  the  Tabernacle.  After 
some  years  he  united  with  the  Moravian  brethren, 
and  died  in  triumph  at  thirty-five. 

In  the  summer  of  1741,  some  three  or  four  months 
after  his  arrival  from  America,  Whitefield  paid  his 
first  visit  to  Scotland.  The  state  of  religion  in  that 
country  at  the  commencement  of  the  ministry  of  this 
distinguished  evangelist,  has  been  already  glanced  at. 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  225 

It  is  here  important  to  remark,  that  in  1740  an  indi- 
cation of  better  things  began  to  appear  in  several 
places,  especially  in  Cambuslang,  under  the  ministry 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  M'Culloch.  This  excellent  man,  for 
nearly  a  year  before  the  revival  began,  had  been 
preaching  to  his  people  on  those  subjects  which  tend 
most  directly  to  explain  the  nature  and  prove  the 
necessity  of  regeneration,  according  to  the  different 
aspects  in  which  it  is  represented  in  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures. The  church  edifice  had  become  too  small 
for  the  congregation,  and  the  minister,  in  favorable 
weather,  frequently  conducted  the  public  worship  on 
a  green  brae  on  the  east  side  of  a  deep  ravine  near  the 
church,  scooped  out  in  the  form  of  an  amphitheatre. 
In  this  retired  and  romantic  spot,  the  worthy  pastor 
preached  in  the  most  impressive  manner  to  the  listen- 
ing multitudes,  and  not  unfrequently,  after  his  ser- 
mons, detailed  to  them  the  astonishing  effects  of 
Whitefield's  preaching  in  America,  which  did  not  a 
little  to  increase  the  interest  of  the  people,  as  well 
as  lead  them  to  wish  to  see  such  an  extraordinary 
preacher. 

While  on  his  voyage  to  Scotland,  Whitefield  gave 
evidence  that  he  had  not  forgotten  America.  In  his 
second  visit  to  America,  he  had  become  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Daniel  Rodgers  of  Exeter, 
New  Hampshire,  a  direct  descendant  of  the  seventh 
generation  of  John  Rogers,  who  was  burnt  at  the 
stake  for  the  testimony  of  Christ  in  the  days  of  the 
bloody  Mary.  It  is  not  surprising  that  Whitefield's 
original  letter  to  him,  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  of  the  grandson  of  Daniel  Rodgers,  is  highly 
10* 


226  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

valued.     It  is  dated  on  board  the  Mary  and  Ann, 
bound  from  London  to  Scotland,  July  25,  1741. 

"  MY  DEAE  BROTHER  EODGERS — How  glad  was  I  to 
receive  a  letter  from  your  hands,  having  heard  noth- 
ing from  you  or  of  you  particularly  since  we  parted. 
Oh,  what  great  things  has  the  Lord  shown  us  since 
that  time !  methinks  I  hear  you  say ;  and  yet  I  can  tell 
of  greater  things.  And  I  believe  we  shall  see  far 
greater  yet  before  we  die.  The  work  is  beginning 
afresh  here.  I  sometimes  think  brother  Gilbert  [Ten- 
nent]  must  take  a  voyage  to  old  England.  Most  of 
our  London  ministers  too  much  shun  the  cross,  and  do 
not  appear  boldly  for  God.  Now  the  Lord  has  work- 
ed so  powerfully  in  your  college,  I  have  less  to  object 
against  your  joining  Mr.  Web.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that 
you  speak  plain  and  close.  What  comfort  will  this 
afford  you  in  a  dying  hour.  Go  on,  my  dear  brother, 
go  on;  venture  daily  upon  Christ.  Go  out  in  his 
strength,  and  he  will  enable  us  to  do  wonders.  He  is 
with  me  more  and  more.  I  have  sweetly  been  carried 
through  the  heat  and  burning  of  every  day's  labor. 
Jesus  bears  all  my  burdens.  Jesus  enables  me  to  cast 
all  my  care  upon  him.  Oh  then,  let  us  magnify  his 
name  together.  I  am  now  going  to  Scotland,  know- 
ing not  what  will  befall  me.  What  God  does,  you 
may  expect  to  hear  of  shortly.  In  the  meanwhile,  let 
us  pray  for  and  write  to  each  other.  As  iron  sharp- 
eneth  iron,  so  do  the  letters  of  a  man  his  friend.  Your 
last  I  have  printed.  God?s  glory  called  me  to  it. 

"  My  dear  brother,  adieu.  Dear  brother  Sims  sits 
by  and  salutes  you.  My  kind  love  awaits  Mr.  Web, 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  227 

and  all  who  love  the  Lord  in  sincerity.  In  hopes  of 
receiving  another  letter  from  you  shortly,  I  subscribe 
myself,  dear  Mr.  Rodgers,  your  most  affectionate, 
though  very  unworthy  brother  and  servant  in  the 
sweetest  Jesus, 

It   /-t          TTT    ,, 

(jr.    W. 

Among  those  who  were  most  anxious  that  Mr. 
Whitefield  should  visit  Scotland,  were  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Ebenezer  and  Ralph  Erskine.  These  two 
excellent  brothers  had  separated  themselves  from  the 
established  church,  chiefly  on  the  ground  of  its  cold 
formalism,  and  with  some  other  zealous  ministers  had 
formed  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Associate 
Presbytery.  Their  wish  was,  that  in  coming  to  Scot- 
land, Whitefield  should  preach  only  in  connection  with 
their  body,  and  so  help  forward  the  work  in  which 
they  were  engaged.  To  this  he  objected,  regarding 
himself  as  an  evangelist  at  large.  As  he  proceeded, 
they  rather  opposed  him,  as  not  sufficiently  particular 
and  discriminative  in  his  zeal.  They  wished  him  not 
to  labor  in  the  church  from  which  they  had  seceded, 
saying,  "  God  had  left  it."  "  Then,"  said  he,  "  it  is  the 
more  necessary  for  me  to  preach  in  it,  to  endeavor  to 
bring  him  back.  I  '11  preach  Christ  wherever  they  '11 
let  me."  On  the  30th  of  July  he  arrived  in  Edinburgh, 
where  he  was  urged  to  preach,  but  declined  till  he 
had  seen  the  Messrs.  Erskine ;  and  accordingly  pro- 
ceeded to  Dunfermline.  Writing  on  the  1st  of  Au- 
gust, he  says,  "I  went  yesterday  to  Dunfermline, 
where  dear  Mr.  Ralph  Erskine  hath  got  a  large  and 
separate,  or  as  it  is  commonly  termed,  seceding  meet- 
ing-house. He  received  me  very  lovingly.  I  preached 


228  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

to  his  and  the  town's  people — a  very  thronged  assem- 
bly. After  I  had  done  prayers  and  named  my  text, 
the  rustling  made  by  opening  the  Bibles  all  at  once 
quite  surprised  me — a  scene  I  never  was  witness  to 
before." 

On  the  day  following,  Whitefield  returned  to 
Edinburgh,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Ralph  Erskine,  and 
preached  in  the  Orphan-house  park  to  a  large  and 
attentive  audience.  His  text  was,  "  The  kingdom  of 
God  is  not  meat  and  drink,  but  righteousness,  and 
peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost."  Rom.  14  :  17. 
After  the  sermon,  a  large  company,  including  some  of 
the  nobility,  came  to  bid  him  God-speed ;  and  among 
others  a  portly  Quaker,  a  nephew  of  the  Messrs.  Er- 
skine, who,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  said,  "Friend 
George,  I  am  as  thou  art ;  I  am  for  bringing  all  to 
the  life  and  power  of  the  ever-living  God ;  and  there- 
fore, if  thou  wilt  not  quarrel  with  me  about  my  hat,  I 
will  not  quarrel  with  thee  about  thy  gown."  On 
Sabbath  evening,  he  preached  in  the  same  place,  to 
upwards  of  fifteen  thousand  persons ;  and  on  the  even- 
ings of  Monday,  Wednesday,  and  Friday,  to  nearly  as 
many;  on  Tuesday  in  the  Canongate  church;  on 
Wednesday  and  Thursday  at  Dunfermline ;  and  on 
Friday  morning  at  Queensferry.  "  Everywhere,"  says 
he,  "  the  auditories  were  large  and  very  attentive. 
Great  power  accompanied  the  word.  Many  have 
been  brought  under  convictions,  and  I  have  already 
received  invitations  to  different  places,  which,  God 
willing,  I  intend  to  comply  with."  Writing  a  week 
later,  he  says,  "  It  would  make  your  heart  leap  for  joy 
to  be  now  in  Edinburgh.  I  question  if  there  be  not 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  229 

upwards  of  three  hundred  in  this  city  seeking  after 
Jesus.  Every  morning  I  have  a  constant  levee  of 
wounded  souls,  many  of  whom  are  quite  slain  by  the 
law.  God's  power  attends  the  word  continually,  just 
as  when  I  left  London.  At  seven  in  the  morning  we 
have  a  lecture  in  the  fields,  attended  not  only  by  the 
common  people,  but  also  by  persons  of  rank.  I  have 
reason  to  think  that  several  of  the  latter  sort  are 
coming  to  Jesus.  Little  children  also  are  much 
wrought  upon.  God  much  blesses  my  letters  from 
the  little  orphans,  [girls  in  the  hospital.]  He  loves 
to  work  by  contemptible  means.  Oh,  my  dear  broth- 
er, I  am  quite  amazed  when  I  think  what  God  has 
done  here  in  a  fortnight.  My  printed  sermons  and 
journals  have  been  blessed  in  an  uncommon  manner. 
I  am  only  afraid  lest  people  should  idolize  the  instru- 
ment, and  not  look  enough  to  the  glorious  Jesus,  in 
whom  alone  I  desire  to  glory.  Congregations  consist 
of  many  thousands.  Never  did  I  see  so  many  Bibles, 
nor  people  looking  into  them,  while  I  am  expounding, 
with  so  much  attention.  Plenty  of  tears  flow  from  the 
hearers'  eyes.  Their  emotions  appear  in  various  ways. 
I  preach  twice  daily,  and  expound  at  private  houses 
at  night,  and  am  employed  in  speaking  to  souls  under 
distress  great  part  of  the  day.  I  have  just  snatched  a 
few  moments  to  write  to  my  dear  brother.  Oh,  that 
God  may  enlarge  your  heart  to  pray  for  me.  This 
afternoon  I  preach  out  of  town,  and  also  to-morrow. 
Next  post,  God  willing,  you  shall  have  another  letter. 
I  walk  continually  in  the  comforts  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
The  love  of  Christ  quite  strikes  me  dumb.  0  grace, 
grace !  let  that  be  my  song.  Adieu." 


230  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

In  this  manner  Whitefield  continued  to  preach 
very  extensively  over  Scotland  ;  and  early  in  Septem- 
ber he  arrived  at  Glasgow.  On  the  eleventh  of  that 
month  he  began  his  labors  in  the  High  Church-yard, 
and  for  five  days  in  succession  preached  there  twice  a 
day — at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  and  again  in 
the  evening.  The  expectations  of  the  people  were 
high,  not  only  in  Glasgow,  but  all  around,  and  crowds 
flocked  to  hear  him  preach.  Morning  after  morning, 
and  evening  after  evening,  that  vast  church-yard, 
almost  paved  as  it  is  with  tombstones,  was  crowded 
with  living  worshippers,  trembling1  under  the  word. 
But  not  satisfied  with  hearing,  the  pen  of  the  ready 
writer  was  from  day  to  day  at  work,  and  each  sermon 
was  printed  by  itself,  and  put  immediately  into  circu- 
lation. His  sermons  were  characterized  by  great 
simplicity,  as  if  the  language  of  the  preacher  merely 
expressed  what  he  felt,  and  yet  there  was  so  much 
earnestness,  and  so  much  closeness  of  application,  as 
to  account  for  the  effects  they  produced.  He  was  in 
the  pulpit  very,  much  what  Baxter  was  in  the  press. 
He  spoke  as  a  man  realizing  all  that  he  said,  and  lay- 
ing open  the  feelings  of  his  own  heart  in  addressing 
the  hearts  of  others. 

Very  few  men  better  knew  the  human  heart  than 
Whitefield.  He  seemed  to  know  all  the  thoughts  and 
feelings  of  his  hearers,  and  the  best  way  in  which  to 
meet  them.  He  once  preached  in  Scotland  from  the 
text,  "  The  door  was  shut."  Matt.  25  : 10.  A  respect- 
able lady  who  heard  him  sat  near  the  door,  a  consid- 
erable distance  from  the  pulpit,  and  observed  two 
showy  and  trifling  young  men  who  appeared  to  turn 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  231 

the  solemn  appeals  of  the  preacher  into  ridicule  ;  she 
heard  one  of  them  say  in  a  low  tone  to  the  other, 
"  Well,  what  if  the  door  be  shut?  another  will  open." 
In  a  very  few  minutes,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the 
lady,  Mr.  Whitefield  said,  "  It  is  possible  there  may 
be  some  careless,  trifling  person  here  to-day,  who  may 
ward  off  the  force  of  this  impressive  subject  by  lightly 
thinking,  '  What  matter  if  the  door  be  shut  ?  another 
will  open.'"  The  two  young  men  looked  at  each 
other  as  though  they  were  paralyzed,  as  the  preacher 
proceeded  :  "  Yes,  another  door  will  open  ;  and  I  will 
tell  you  what  door  it  will  be :  it  will  be  the  door  of 
the  bottomless  pit,  the  door  of  hell ! — the  door  which 
conceals  from  the  eyes  of  angels  the  horrors  of  dam- 
nation." 

After  Mr.  Whitefield's  return  to  England,  at  the 
close  of  October,  among  many  letters  which  followed 
him,  detailing  the  results  of  his  labors,  was  one  from 
Mr.  M'Culloch,  the  excellent  minister  already  re- 
ferred to : 

"  As  it  is  matter  of  joy  and  thankfulness  to  God, 
who  sent  you  hither,  and  gave  you  so  much  counte- 
nance, and  so  remarkably  crowned  your  labors  with 
success  here  at  Glasgow,  so  I  doubt  not  but  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  many  seals  to  your  ministry  in 
and  about  that  city,  will  be  very  rejoicing  to  your 
heart,  especially  as  'the  kingdom  of  our  glorious  Re- 
deemer is  so  much  advanced  thereby,  and  as  the  ever- 
lasting happiness  of  souls  is  promoted.  I  am  well 
informed  by  some  ministers,  and  other  judicious  and 
experienced  Christians,  that  there  are  to  the  amount 
of  fifty  persons  already  known,  in  and  about  Glasgow, 


232  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

who  appear  to  be  savingly  converted,  through  the 
blessing  and  power  of  God  on  your  ten  sermons. 
And  there  are,  besides  these,  several  others  appar- 
ently under  conviction,  but  not  reckoned,  as  being 
still  doubtful.  Several  Christians  also,  of  considera- 
ble standing,  were  much  strengthened,  revived,  and 
comforted  by  what  they  heard.  They  were  made  to 
rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  having  attained 
to  the  full  assurance  of  faith.  Among  those  lately 
converted,  there  are  several  young  people  who  were 
before  openly  wicked  and  flagitious,  or  at  best  but 
very  negligent  as  to  spiritual  things ;  and  yet  they 
are  now  in  the  way  of  salvation.  Some  young  con- 
verts are  yet  under  doubts  and  fears,  but  a  considera- 
ble number  of  them  have  attained  to  peace  and  joy  in 
believing.  Several  of  those  who  were  lately  wrought 
on  in  a  gracious  way,  seem  to  outstrip  Christians  of 
considerable  standing,  in  spiritual-mindedness,  and  in 
many  other  good  qualifications ;  particularly  in  their 
zeal  for  the  conversion  of  others,  in  their  love  to  ordi- 
nances, and  in  their  freedom  from  bigotry  and  party 
zeal.  Those  converted  by  your  ministry  have  not 
been  discovered  at  once,  but  only  from  time  to  time. 
A  good  many  of  them  have  been  discovered  only  of 
late.  Their  convictions  were  at  first  less  pungent, 
and  through  the  discouragements  they  met  with  in  the 
families  where  they  resided,  as  well  as  from  their  own 
feelings,  they  endeavored  for  a  time  to  conceal  their 
state.  These  circumstances  afford  ground  for  hoping, 
that  there  are  yet  others  who  may  afterwards  become 
known.  Besides  such  as  have  been  awakened  through 
the  power  of  God  accompanying  your  sermons,  there 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  233 

have  been  others  who  have  been  since  awakened,  and 
who  have  been  discovered  in  consequence  of  the  change 
observable  in  their  conduct.  These,  dear  brother,  are 
a  few  hints  concerning  some  of  the  most  remarkable 
things,  as  to  the  blessing  which  accompanied  your 
labors  at  Glasgow." 

At  Edinburgh,  when  first  visited  by  Whitefield, 
many  persons  of  the  highest  rank  constantly  attended 
his  ministry.  Among  them  were  the  Marquis  of  Lo- 
thian, the  Earl  of  Leven,  Lord  Ray,  Lady  Mary  Ham- 
ilton, Lady  Frances  Gardiner,  Lady  Jane  Nimins,  and 
Lady  Dirleton ;  and  at  some  one  of  their  houses  he 
expounded  almost  every  evening.  Numbers  of  min- 
isters and  students  crowded  to  hear  him ;  and  aged 
Christians  told  him  they  could  set  their  seal  to  what 
he  preached. 

In  connection  with  this  first  visit  to  Edinburgh, 
several  incidents  have  been  related  which  show  the 
power  that  accompanied  his  preaching,  and  the  skill 
with  which  he  could  seize  upon  passing  circumstan- 
ces, and  apply  them  to  the  great  purpose  which  he 
always  had  in  view.  A  gentleman,  on  returning  from 
one  of  his  sermons,  was  met  on  his  way  home  by 
an  eminent  minister  whom  he  usually  heard,  and  who 
expressed  great  surprise  that  he  should  go  to  hear 
such  a  man.  The  gentleman  replied,  "  Sir,  when  I 
hear  you,  I  am  planting  trees  all  the  time;  but  dur- 
ing the  whole  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  sermon,  I  could  not 
find  time  to  plant  one."  A  similar  instance  is  related 
of  a  ship-builder,  who  usually  could  "  build  a  ship  from 
stem  to  stern  during  the  sermon ;  but  under  Mr.  White- 
field,  could  not  lay  a  single  plank." 


234  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Another  narrative  has  been  thus  given.  An  un- 
happy man  who  had  forfeited  his  life  to  the  offended 
laws  of  his  country,  was  executed  in  that  neighbor- 
hood. Mr.  Whitefield  mingled  with  the  crowd  col- 
lected on  the  occasion,  and  was  much  impressed  with 
the  decorum  and  solemnity  which  were  observable  in 
the  awful  scene.  His  appearance,  however,  drew  the 
eyes  of  all  upon  him,  and  produced  a  variety  of  opin- 
ions as  to  the  motives  which  led  him  to  join  the  mul- 
titude. 

The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  he  preached  to  a  very 
large  congregation  in  a  field  near  the  city ;  and  in  the 
course  of  his  sermon,  he  adverted  to  the  scenes  of  the 
preceding  day.  "I  know,"  said  he,  "that  many  of 
you  may  find  it  difficult  to  reconcile  my  appearance 
yesterday  with  my  clerical  character.  Many  of  you, 
I  know,  will  say  that  my  moments  would  have  been 
better  employed  in  praying  for  the  unhappy  man,  than 
in  attending  him  to  the  fatal  tree ;  and  that  perhaps 
curiosity  was  the  only  cause  that  converted  me  into  a 
spectator  on  that  occasion ;  but  those  who  ascribe 
that  uncharitable  motive  to  me,  are  under  a  mistake. 
I  went  as  an  observer  of  human  nature,  and  to  see  the 
effect  that  such  an  occurrence  would  have  on  those 
who  witnessed  it.  I  watched  the  conduct  of  those 
who  were  present  on  that  awful  occasion,  and  I  was 
highly  pleased  with  their  demeanor,  which  has  given 
me  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  the  Scottish  nation. 
Your  sympathy  was  visible  on  your  countenances  • 
particularly  when  the  moment  arrived  that  your  un- 
happy fellow-creature  was  to  close  his  eyes  on  this 
world  for  ever.  Then  you  all,  as  if  moved  by  one 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  235 

impulse,  turned  your  heads  aside,  and  wept.  Those 
tears  were  precious,  and  will  be  held  in  remembrance. 
How  different  it  was  when  the  Saviour  of  mankind 
was  extended  on  the  cross !  The  Jews,  instead  of  sym- 
pathizing in  his  sorrows,  triumphed  in  them.  They 
reviled  him  with  bitter  expressions,  with  words  even 
more  bitter  than  the  gall  and  vinegar  which  they 
handed  him  to  drink.  Not  one  of  all  who  witnessed 
his  pains,  turned  his  head  aside,  even  in  the  last  pang. 
Yes,  my  friends,  there  was  one — that  glorious  lumi- 
nary," pointing  to  the  sun,  "  veiled  his  brightness,  and 
travelled  on  his  course  in  tenfold  night." 

On  another  occasion,  near  the  same  city,  and  prob- 
ably in  the  field  to  which  we  have  already  referred, 
under  the  shade  of  a  venerable  tree,  in  a  lovely  mead- 
ow, a  poor  unhappy  man,  thinking  to  turn  him  into 
ridicule,  placed  himself  on  one  of  the  overhanging 
boughs,  immediately  above  the  preacher's  head,  and 
with  monkey-like  dexterity  mimicking  his  gestures, 
endeavored  to  raise  a  laugh  in  the  audience.  Guided 
by  the  looks  of  some  of  his  hearers,  Whitefield  caught 
a  glance  of  him,  but  without  seeming  to  have  noticed 
Win,  continued  his  discourse.  With  the  skill  of  a  wise 
orator,  he  reserved  the  incident  for  the  proper  place 
and  time.  While  forcibly  speaking  on  the  power  and 
sovereignty  of  divine  grace,  with  increasing  earnest- 
ness he  spoke  of  the  unlikely  objects  it  had  often 
chosen,  and  the  unlooked  for  triumphs  it  had  achieved. 
As  he  rose  to  the  climax  of  his  inspiring  theme,  and 
when  in  the  full  sweep  of  his  eloquence,  he  suddenly 
paused,  and  turning  round,  and  pointing  slowly  to  the 
poor  creature  above  him,  he  exclaimed,  in  a  tone  of 


236  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

deep  and  thrilling  pathos,  "  Even  lie  may  yet  be  the 
subject  of  that  free  and  resistless  grace."  It  was  a 
shaft  from  the  Almighty.  Winged  by  the  divine 
Spirit,  it  struck  the  scoffer  to  the  heart,  and  realized 
in  his  conversion  the  glorious  truth  it  contained. 

Yet  another  fact  may  be  told  connected  with 
Whitefield  and  Edinburgh.  When  he  was  once  there, 
a  regiment  of  soldiers  were  stationed  in  the  city,  in 
which  was  a  sergeant  whose  name  was  Forbes,  a  very 
abandoned  man,  who,  everywhere  he  could  do  so,  run 
in  debt  for  liquor,  with  which  he  was  almost  at  all 
times  drunk.  His  wife  washed  for  the  regiment,  and 
thus  obtained  a  little  money.  She  was  a  pious  woman, 
but  all  her  attempts  to  reclaim  her  husband  were  un- 
successful. During  one  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  visits  to 
the  city,  she  offered  her  husband  a  sum  of  money,  if 
he  would  for  once  go  and  hear  the  eloquent  preacher. 
This  was  a  strong  inducement,  and  he  engaged  to  go. 
The  sermon  was  in  a  field,  as  no  building  could  have 
contained  the  audience.  The  sergeant  was  rather 
early,  and  placed  himself  in  the  middle  of  the  field, 
that  he  might  file  off  when  Mr.  Whitefield  ascended 
the  pulpit ;  as  he  only  wished  to  be  able  to  say  that 
he  had  seen  him.  The  crowd,  however,  increased ; 
and  when  the  preacher  appeared,  they  pressed  for- 
ward, and  the  sergeant  found  it  impossible  to  get 
away.  The  prayer  produced  some  impression  on  his 
mind,  but  the  sermon  convinced  him  of  his  sinfulness 
and  danger.  He  became  a  changed  man,  and  showed 
the  reality  of  his  conversion  by  living  for  many  years 
in  a  very  penurious  manner,  till  he  had  satisfied  the 
claims  of  every  one  of  his  creditors. 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.7  237 

One  fact  more  should  be  stated  in  connection  with 
this  visit.  Mr.  James  Ogilvie  was  one  of  the  minis- 
ters of  Aberdeen.  This  city  was  not  in  that  day,  nor 
indeed  in  any  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  warmly 
attached  to  a  fully-exhibited  gospel.  At  this  time, 
however,  both  Mr.  Ogilvie  and  his  colleague,  Mr.  Bis- 
set,  who,  as  Sir  Henry  Moncrieff  says,  was  the  highest 
of  the  High  church,  were  evangelical,  though  other- 
wise very  opposite  men.  "  Though  colleagues  of  the 
same  congregation,"  says  Whitefield,  "  they  are  very 
different  in  their  natural  temper.  The  one  is,  what 
they  call  in  Scotland,  a  sweet-blooded  man,  the  other 
of  a  choleric  disposition.  Mr.  Bisset  is  neither  a  seced- 
er  nor  quite  a  true  kirkman,  having  great  fault  to 
find  with  both.  Soon  after  my  arrival,  dear  Mr. 
Ogilvie  took  -me  to  pay  my  respects  to  him.  He  was 
prepared  for  it,  and  pulled  out  a  paper  containing  a 
great  number  of  insignificant  queries,  which  I  had 
neither  time  nor  inclination  to  answer."  For  several 
years  Mr.  Ogilvie  had  been  corresponding  with  Mr. 
Whitefield  to  induce  him  to  visit  Aberdeen,  hoping 
that  some  good  might  be  done  ;  and  as  he  was  himself 
to  preach  on  Sabbath  forenoon  in  presence  of  the 
magistrates,  he  gave  Mr.  Whitefield  his  place.  The 
congregation  was  large,  and  apparently  much  inter- 
ested. Mr.  Bisset,  in  the  afternoon,  preached  against 
Mr.  Whitefield  by  name.  Mr.  Ogilvie,  without  either 
consulting  his  friend,  or  noticing  the  conduct  of  his 
colleague,  stood  up,  after  the  sermon,  and  intimated  to 
the  congregation  that  Mr.  Whitefield  would  again 
preach  in  about  half  an  hour.  The  magistrates  re- 
mained in  the  session-house,  and  the  people  hastened 


238  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

back,  expecting  to  hear  a  reply.  Mr.  Whitefield, 
waiving  as  much  as  possible  all  controversial  matter, 
preached  Christ.  The  audience  was  silent,  solemn, 
and  deeply  impressed.  Next  day,  the  magistrates 
apologized  for  their  minister  ;  and  as  a  mark  of  their 
own  respect,  presented  to  Mr.  Whitefield  the  freedom 
of  their  city.  The  effect  of  this  visit  to  Aberdeen 
was  great  and  beneficial. 

In  1742,  Mr.  Whitefield  again  visited  Scotland. 
In  the  mean  time  he  had  heard  that  his  dear  friends 
the  Erskines  had  become  greatly  offended,  on  account 
of  what  they  considered  his  lax  views  of  church  gov- 
ernment. But  notwithstanding  this  difference  with 
the  seceders,  he  was  received  by  great  numbers,  among 
whom  were  some  persons  of  distinction,  with  cordi- 
ality and  joy,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing 
more  and  more  of  the  happy  fruits  of  his  ministry. 
At  Edinburgh  he  again  preached  twice  a  day,  as 
before,  in  the  Hospital-park,  where  a  number  of  seats 
and  shades,  in  the  form  of  an  amphitheatre,  were 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  his  hearers.  On 
the  day  of  his  arrival  at  Cambuslang,  he  preached 
three  times  to  an  immense  body  of  people,  although 
he  had  preached  that  same  morning  at  Glasgow. 
The  last  service  continued  till  eleven  o'clock  ;  and  so 
much  were  the  people  interested,  that  Mr.  M'Culloch, 
after  preaching  till  past  one  in  the  morning,  could 
scarcely  persuade  them  to  depart.  Mr.  Whitefield 
himself  thus  describes  the  scene :  "  Persons  from  all 
parts  flocked  to  see,  and  many,  from  many  parts,  went 
home  convinced  and  converted  to  God.  A  brae,  or 
hill,  near  the  manse  at  Cambuslang,  seemed  to  be 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  239 

formed  by  Providence  for  containing  a  large  congre- 
gation. People  sat  unwearied  till  two  in  the  morn- 
ing, to  hear  sermons,  disregarding  the  weather.  You 
could  scarcely  walk  a  yard,  but  you  must  tread  upon 
some  either  rejoicing  in  God  for  mercies  received,  or 
crying  out  for  more.  Thousands  and  thousands  have 
I  seen,  before  it  was  possible  to  catch  it  by  sympathy, 
melted  down  under  the  word  and  power  of  God.  At 
the  celebration  of  the  holy  communion,  their  joy  was 
so  great,  that,  at  •  the  desire  of  many,  both  ministers 
and  people,  in  imitation  of  Hezekiah's  passover,  they 
had,  a  month  or  two  afterwards,  a  second,  which  was 
a  general  rendezvous  of  the  people  of  God.  The  com- 
munion was  in  the  field  ;  three  tents,  at  proper  dis- 
tances, all  surrounded  with  a  multitude  of  hearers ; 
above  twenty  ministers,  among  whom  was  good  old 
Mr.  Bonner,  attending  to  preach  and  assist,  all  enli- 
vening and  enlivened  by  one  another." 

In  addition  to  his 'labors  at  Glasgow  and  Cambus- 
lang,  it  is  surprising  to  observe  the  number  of  places 
in  the  west  of  Scotland  which  Whitefield  visited  in 
the  course  of  a  few  weeks ;  preaching  wherever  he 
went,  with  his  usual  frequency,  energy,  and  success. 
A  gentleman  of  piety  and  intelligence  thus  refers  to 
one  of  them  several  years  afterwards :  "  When  Mr. 
Whitefield  was  preaching  at  Kilmarnock,  on  the 
twenty-third  of  August,  from  the  words,  '  And  of  his 
fulness  have  all  we  received,  and  grace  for  grace/  I 
thought  I  never  heard  such  a  sermon  ;  and  from  the 
era  above  mentioned,  I  have  always  looked  upon  him 
as  my  spiritual  father,'  and  frequently  heard  him  after- 
wards in  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  with  much  satisfac- 


240  GEORGE  •WHITEFIELD. 

tion.  When  Cape  Breton  was  taken,  I  happened  to 
be  at  Edinburgh,  and  being  invited  to  breakfast  with 
Mr.  Whitefield,  I  never,  in  all  my  life,  enjoyed  such 
another  breakfast.  He  gave  the  company  a  fine  and 
lively  descant  upon  that  part  of  the  world,  made  us  all 
join  in  a  hymn  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  and  con- 
cluded with  a  most  devout  and  fervent  prayer."  About 
the  end  of  October,  Whitefield  returned  to  London. 

Probably  few  are  aware  that  Mr.  Whitefield  visit- 
ed Scotland  no  less  i^n  fourteen  times.  These  visits 
extended  over  a  period  of  twenty-seven  years,  begin- 
ning in  1741,  and  ending  in  1768.  In  none  of  his 
visits  after  1742  were  there  the  same  extensive  awak- 
enings as  in  his  first  two  visits,  yet  his  coming  was 
always  refreshing  to  serious  persons,  infusing  new 
life,  and  increasing  their  numbers.  Young  people, 
too,  were  much  benefited  by  his  ministry,  and  espec- 
ially young  students,  who  afterwards  became  zealous 
and  evangelical  preachers.  His  morning  discourses, 
which  were  generally  intended  for  sincere  but  discon- 
solate souls,  were  peculiarly  fitted  to  direct  and  en- 
courage such  in  the  Christian  life  ;  and  his  addresses 
in  the  evening  to  the  promiscuous  multitudes  who  then 
attended  him,  were  powerful  and  alarming.  There 
was  great  solemnity  in  his  evening  congregations  in 
the  Orphan-house  park  at  Edinburgh  and  the  High 
Church-yard  at  Glasgow,  especially  towards  the  con- 
clusion of  his  sermons — which  were  usually  long, 
though  they  seemed  short  to  his  hearers — when  the 
whole  multitude  stood  fixed,  and  like  one  man,  hung 
upon  his  lips  with  silent  attention,  and  many  were 
under  deep  religious  impressions. 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  241 

His  conversation  was  no  less  useful  and  delightful 
than  his  sermons.  Many  in  Glasgow,  Edinburgh,  and 
other  parts  of  the  land,  bore  witness  of  this  fact.  In 
Glasgow  especially,  when  in  company  with  his  excel- 
lent friends  M'Laurin,  Scott,  and  others,  one  might 
challenge  the  professed  sons  of  pleasure,  with  all  their 
wit,  humor,  and  gayety,  to  furnish  entertainments  so 
gratifying ;  nor  was  any  part  of  it  more  agreeable 
than  it  was  useful  and  edifying. 

Mr.  Whitefield's  friends  in  Scotland,  among  whom 
were  many  of  all  ranks,  from  the  highest  to  the  low- 
est, weie  constant  and  steady  in  their  great  regard 
for  him,  and  his  opposers  from  year  to  year  became 
less  violent.  Indeed,  his  whole  behavior  was  so  trans- 
parent to  the  eyes  of  the  world,  and  his  character, 
after  it  had  stood  many  attacks  from  all  quarters, 
became  so  thoroughly  established,  that  some  of  his 
opposers  in  Scotland  seemed  to  acquire  esteem  for 
him ;  at  least,  they  ceased  to  speak  evil  of  him. 

In  closing  our  sketch  of  Whitefield  in  Scotland, 
we  select  a  few  paragraphs  from  his  letters,  which  are 
the  more  interesting  as  being  among  the  very  last 
words  he  wrote  in  that  country.  June  15,  1768,  he 
says,  "  You  would  be  delighted  to  see  our  Orphan- 
house  park  assemblies,  as  large,  attentive,  and  affec- 
tionate as  ever.  Twenty-seven-year-old  friends  and 
spiritual  children  remember  the  days  of  old  ;  they 
are  seeking  after  their  first  love,  and  there  seems  to 
be  a  stirring  among  the  dry  bones."  Writing  on  the 
.  second  of  July,  he  says,  "  Could  I  preach  ten  times  a 
day,  thousands  and  thousands  would  attend.  I  have 
been  confined  for  a  few  days  :  "but  on  Monday  or 

VVhitcfield.  1 1 


242  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Tuesday  next,  hope  to  mount  my  throne  again.  0, 
to  die  there  1  too  great,  too  great  an  honor  to  be  ex- 
pected." Again,  on  the  ninth  of  July,  "  Every  thing 
goes  on  better  and  better  here ;  but  I  am  so  worn 
down  by  preaching  abroad  and  talking  at  home  almost 
all  the  day  long,  that  I  have  determined,  God  willing, 
to  set  off  for  London  next  Tuesday." 

The  respect  with  which  Whitefield  was  treated  in 
Scotland,  not  only  by  professing  Christians,  but  in 
general  society,  was  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  was 
presented  with  the  freedom  of  some  of  the  principal 
cities  and  towns  which  he  visited.  This  privilege 
was  given  him  in  Stirling,  Glasgow,  Paisley,  and  Ab- 
erdeen, in  1741,  and  at  Irvine  and  Edinburgh  somo 
years  afterwards. 

It  is  difficult,  in  such  a  world  as  this,  so  to  live  as 
that  "our  good"  shall  not  "be  evil  spoken  of."  Mr. 
Whitefield  has  sometimes  been  charged  with  motives 
of  a  mercenary  character,  but  his  whole  life  showed 
the  fallacy  of  such  a  charge.  Dr.  Gillies,  his  original 
biographer,  received  from  unquestionable  testimony 
the  knowledge  of  a  fact  which  ought  not  to  be  forgot- 
ten. During  his  stay  in  Scotland,  in  the  year  1759, 
a  young  lady,  Miss  Hunter,  who  possessed  a  consider- 
able fortune,  made  a  full  offer  to  him  of  her  estate  in 
money  and  lands,  worth  several  thousand  pounds. 
He  promptly  refused  the  offer ;  and  upon  his  declin- 
ing it  for  himself,  she  offered  it  to  him  for  the  benefit 
of  his  orphan-house.  This  also  he  absolutely  refused. 

Never  could  Whitefield  be  accused  of  moral  cow- 
ardice. When  the  old  Scotch  Marquis  of  Lothian 
professed  that  his  heart  was  impressed  with  the  im- 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  243 

portance  of  religion,  but  wished  to  be  a  Christian  in 
the  dark,  Whitefield  said  to  him,  "As  for  praying  in 
your  family,  I  entreat  you  not  to  neglect  it ;  you  are 
bound  to  do  it.  Apply  to  Christ  to  overcome  your 
present  fears ;  they  are  the  effects  of  pride  or  infidel- 
ity, or  both." 

On  his  return  from  Scotland  to  London  in  1741, 
Whitefield  passed  through  Wales,  where  at  Aberga- 
venny  he  was  married  to  a  Mrs.  James,  a  widow, 
some  ten  years  older  than  himself.  Of  this  marriage, 
as  also  of  the  death  of  his  only  child,  we  have  already 
spoken.  After  preaching  at  Bristol  twice  a  day  for 
several  days  in  succession,  he  returned  to  London  in 
the  beginning  of  December,  where  he  found  letters 
from  Georgia,  which,  on  account  of  the  temporal  cir- 
cumstances of  his  orphan  family,  somewhat  discour- 
aged him.  But  to  trace  his  progress,  and  to  report 
all  his  labors,  would  be  to  extend  our  volume  beyond 
its  due  limits. 

He  was  soon  again  in  the  west  of  England,  and 
writing  from  Gloucester,  his  native  place,  December 
23,  1741,  he  says,  "  Last  Thursday  evening  the  Lord 
brought  me  hither.  I  preached  immediately  to  our 
friends  in  a  large  barn,  and  had  my  Master's  presence. 
Both  the  power  and  the  congregation  increased.  On 
Sunday,  Providence  opened  a  door  for  my  preaching 
in  St.  John's,  one  of  the  parish  churches.  Great  num- 
bers came.  On  Sunday  afternoon,  after  I  had  preach- 
ed twice  at  Gloucester,  I  preached  at  the  hill,  six 
miles  off,  and  again  at  night  at  Stroud.  The  people 
seemed  to  be  more  hunsrv  than  ever,  and  the  Lord  to 


244  GEORGE  WHITEF1ELD. 

be  more  among  them.  Yesterday  morning  I  preached 
at  Painswick,  in  the  parish  church,  here  in  the  after- 
noon, and  again  at  night  in  the  barn.  God  gives  me 
unspeakable  comfort  and  uninterrupted  joy.  Here 
seems  to  be  a  new  awakening,  and  a  revival  of  the 
work  of  God.  I  find  several  country  people  were 
awakened  when  I  preached  at  Tewkesbury,  and  have 
heard  of  three  or  four  that  have  died  in  the  Lord. 
We  shall  never  know  what  good  field-preaching  has 
done  till  we  come  to  judgment.  Many  who  were 
prejudiced  against  me  begin  to  be  of  another  mind  ; 
and  God  shows  me  more  and  more  that '  when  a  man's 
ways  please  the  Lord,  he  will  make  even  his  enemies 
to  be  at  peace  with  him.' " 

In  the  following  February  he  was  still  further 
encouraged  by  receiving  letters  from  America,  inform- 
ing him  of  the  remarkable  success  of  the  gospel  there, 
and  that  God  had  stirred  up  some  wealthy  friends  to 
assist  his  orphans  in  their  extremity.  He  writes, 
"The  everlasting  God  reward  all  their  benefactors. 
I  find  there  has  been  a  fresh  awakening  among  them. 
I  am  informed  that  twelve  negroes  belonging  to  a 
planter  lately  converted  at  the  orphan-house,  are  sav- 
ingly brought  home  to  Jesus  Christ."  Nor  were  these 
things  all  which  afforded  him  joy.  Writing  to  a 
friend,  April  6,  he  says,  "  Our  Saviour  is  doing  great 
things  in  London  daily.  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  you 
are  helped  in  your  work.  Let  this  encourage  you  j 
go  on,  go  on ;  the  more  we  do,  the  more  we  may  do 
for  Jesus.  I  sleep  and  eat  but  little,  and  am  con- 
stantly employed  from  morning  till  midnight,  and  yet 
my  strength  is  daily  renewed.  Oh,  free  grace !  it 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  245 

fires  my  soul,  and  makes  me  long  to  do  something  for 
Jesus.  It  is  true,  indeed,  I  want  to  go  home;  but 
here  are  so  many  souls  ready  to  perish  for  lack  of 
knowledge,  that  I  am  willing  to  tarry  below  as  long 
as  my  Master  has  work  for  me."  It  was  at  this  pe- 
riod that  he  first  ventured  to  preach  in  the  fair  in 
Moorfields,  to  which  we  have  already  referred.  In 
this  year  he  made  also  his  second  journey  to  Scotland, 
the  particulars  of  which  have  been  already  given. 

On  his  arrival  from  Scotland  in  London,  October, 
1742,  Whitefield  found  a  new  awakening  at  the  Tab- 
ernacle, which  in  the  mean  time  had  been  enlarged. 
He  says,  "  I  am  employed,  and,  glory  to  rich  grace,  I 
am  carried  through  the  duties  of  each  day  with  cheer- 
fulness and  almost  uninterrupted  "tranquillity.  Our 
society  is  large,  but  in  good  order.  My  Master  gives 
us  much  of  his  gracious  presence,  both  in  our  public 
and  private  ministrations." 

In  March,  1743,  he  went  again  into  Gloucestershire, 
where  the  people  appeared  to  be  more  eager  to  attend 
on  his  ministry  than  ever  before.  "Preaching,"  says 
he,  "  in  Gloucestershire,  is  now  like  preaching  at  the 
Tabernacle  in  London."  And  in  a  letter,  April  7,  he 
says,  "  I  preached,  and  took  leave  of  the  Gloucester 
people,  with  mutual  and  great  concern,  on  Sunday 
evening  last.  It  was  past  one  in  the  morning  before 
I  could  lay  my  weary  body  down.  At  five  I  rose 
again,  sick  for  want  of  rest ;  but  I  was  enabled  to 

get  on  horseback  and  ride  to  Mr.  T 's,  where  I 

preached  to  a  large  congregation,  who  came  there  at 
seven  in  the  morning.  At  ten,  I  read  prayers  and 
preached,  and  afterwards  administered  the  sacrament 


246  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

in  Stonehouse  church.    Then  I  rode  to  Stroud,  and 

preached  to  about  twelve  thousand  in  Mr.  G 's 

field ;  and  about  six  in  the  evening,  to  a  like  number 
on  Hampton  common."  Next  morning  he  preached 
near  Dursley  to  '  some  thousands ;  at  about  seven 
o'clock  he  reached  Bristol,  and  preached  to  a  full 
congregation  at  Smith's  hall;  and  on  the  following 
morning,  after  preaching,  set  out  for  Waterford,  in 
South  Wales,  where  he  opened  the  association  which 
he  and  his  brethren  had  agreed  upon,  and  was  several 
days  with  them,  settling  the  affairs  of  the  societies. 
The  work  in  Wales,  during  his  absence,  had  very 
greatly  extended  itself,  not  a  few  of  the  clergy  hav- 
ing become  converted,  as  well  as  their  people.  He 
tells  us,  "The  power  of  God  at  the  sacrament,  under 
the  ministry  of  Mr.  Rowland,  was  enough  to  make  a 
person's  heart  burn  within  him.  At  seven  in  the  morn- 
ing have  I  seen  perhaps  ten  thousand  from  different 
parts,  in  the  midst  of  a  sermon,  crying,  Gugunniaut — 
bendyth — [glory — blessed] — ready  to  leap  for  joy." 
He  continued  in  Wales  some  weeks,  preaching  with 
great  apparent  success,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  April 
returned  to  Gloucester,  after  having,  in  about  three 
weeks,  travelled  about  four  hundred  miles,  spent  three 
days  in  attending  associations,  and  preached  about 
forty  times.  Among  the  interesting  events  of  this 
journey  may  be  reckoned  the  fact,  that  when  he  was 
at  Caermarthen  the  quarterly  sessions  were  held. 
When  he  was  about  to  preach,  the  magistrates  sent 
him  word,  that  if  he  would  stay  till  the  court  rose, 
they  would  attend  on  the  service.  He  acceded  to 
their  proposal,  and  they  were  present,  with  many 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  24T 

thousands  more,  including  several  persons  of  high 
rank. 

After  a  few  weeks  spent  in  London,  preaching  to 
vast  congregations  in  Moorfields,  and  exulting  in  his 
accustomed  success,  collecting  too  for  his  beloved  or- 
phans, so  as  to  be  able  to  pay  all  his  debts,  and  to  make 
a  remittance  to  Georgia,  we  again  find  him  at  Bris- 
tol, and  in  a  few  days  afterwards  at  Exeter.  Among 
the  clergymen  who  met  him  there  was  Mr.  Cennick. 
As  this  gentleman  was  preaching  during  this  visit  in 
the  High-street  of  the  city,  he  was  eloquently  dis- 
coursing on  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement  by  the 
blood  of  Christ,  when  a  profane  butcher  in  the  crowd 
exclaimed,  "If  you  love  blood,  you  shall  presently 
have  enough  of  it,"  and  ran  to  obtain  some  to  throw 
on  him.  A  Mr.  Saunders,  who  was  employed  in  con- 
veying persons  from  one  place  to  another,  though  an 
entire  stranger  to  religion,  from  a  sense  of  justice, 
determined  to  defend  the  preacher;  and  when  the 
butcher  came  with  a  pail  nearly  filled  with  blood,  he 
quietly  took  it  from  him,  and  poured  it  over  the 
man's  own  head.  This  Mr.  Saunders  afterwards  be- 
came an  eminent  Christian.  He  was,  till  extreme  old 
age,  the  body-coachman  of  George  III.,  with  whom  he 
frequently  held  Christian  conversation,  and  died  hap- 
pily in  1799,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine. 

During  this  visit  to  Bristol,  Whitefield's  ministry 
was  owned  of  God  in  the  conversion  of  Thomas  Oli- 
vers, a  young  profligate  Welshman.  It  is  said,  he 
had  so  studied  profanity  and  cursing,  that  he  would 
exemplify  the  richness  of  the  Welsh  language  by  com- 
pounding twenty  or  thirty  words  into  one  long  and 


248  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

horrid  blasphemy.  He  had  often  sang  profane  songs 
about  Whitefield,  and  was  now  induced  by  curiosity 
to  go  to  hear  him.  Being  too  late  on  the  first  occa- 
sion, he  went  on  the  following  evening  nearly  three 
hours  before  the  time.  The  text  was,  "  Is  not  this  a 
brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire?"  Zech.  3:2.  His 
heart  became  broken  with  a  sense  of  his  sins,  and  he 
was  soon  enabled  to  trust  in  the  mercy  of  Christ.  He 
became  a  zealous  and  successful  minister  of  Christ 
among  the  followers  of  Mr.  Wesley,  and  was  the  author 
of  the  well-known  hymn, 

"  The  God  of  Abram  praise,"  etc. 

In  August,  Whitefield  returned  to  London,  but  not 
to  make  a  long  stay  there.  "  I  thank  you,"  he  writes 
to  a  correspondent,  "  for  your  kind  caution  to  spare 
myself;  but  evangelizing  is  certainly  my  province. 
Everywhere  effectual  doors  are  opened.  So  far  from 
thinking  of  settling  in  London,  I  am  more  and  more 
convinced  that  I  should  go  from  place  to  place.  Ac- 
cordingly, during  the  three  last  months  of  1743,  we 
find  him  in  a  large  number  of  places  in  the  central 
and  western  parts  of  England.  At  Birmingham,  he 
writes,  "I  have  preached  five  times  this 'day,  and  weak 
as  I  am,  through  Christ  strengthening  me,  I  could 
preach  five  times  more."  At  Kidderminster  he  met 
with  a  distinguished  Christian  merchant,  a  Mr.  Will- 
iams, whose  published  "  Memoirs  "  have  been  eminently 
useful.  Whitefield  writes,  "  I  was  kindly  received  by 
Mr.  Williams.  Many  friends  were  at  his  house.  I 
was  greatly  refreshed  to  find  what  a  sweet  savor  of 
good  Baxter's  doctrine,  works,  and  discipline  remains 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  249 

to  this  day."  Nor  did  he,  amidst  all  his  labors,  feel 
his  health  much  impaired.  He  observes,  indeed,  that 
he  had  taken  a  cold,  but  adds,  "  The  Lord  warms  my 
heart." 

In  the  beginning  of  March,  1744,  he  was  compelled 
to  attend  the  assizes  at  Gloucester.  During  the  pre- 
ceding summer,  the  enemies  of  the  Methodists  had 
been  very  violent,  especially  at  Hampton,  in  that 
county.  Forbearance  in  the  case  had  ceased  to  be  a 
virtue,  and  Mr.  Whitefield  was  strongly  urged  to  ap- 
peal to  law,  which  in  England  in  such  cases  is  severe. 
At  the  preceding  sessions  the  rioters  had  been  con 
victed,  but  appealed  to  the  assizes,  a  higher  court. 
After  a  full  hearing,  a  verdict  was  given  in  favor  of 
Whitefield  and  his  friends,  and  all  the  prisoners  were 
found  guilty.  This  exposed  each  to  a  fine  of  forty 
pounds,  or  six  months'  imprisonment ;  the  rioters  were 
greatly  alarmed,  public  feeling  on  the  subject  was 
corrected,  and  the  Methodists  readily  extended  for- 
giveness to  the  unhappy  offenders. 

Whitefield  was  now  invited  by  Mr.  Smith,  an 
American  merchant  then  in  England,  in  the  name  of 
thousands,  to  revisit  this  country,  and  took  passage 
with  that  gentleman  in  a  vessel  sailing  from  Portsmouth. 
But  the  captain  refused  to  take  him,  "  for  fear,"  as  he 
said,  "  he  would  spoil  the  sailors."  On  this  account 
Mr.  Whitefield  was  compelled  to  go  to  Plymouth,  an- 
other seaport,  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  On  his  way, 
he  preached  at  Exeter  and  other  places,  with  delight- 
ful results.  "  But,"  he  says,  "  the  chief  scene  was  at 
Plymouth  and  the  Dock,  [now  called  Devonport,] 
where  I  expected  least  success." 
11* 


250  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

* 

While  lie  was  at  Plymouth,  four  well-dressed  men 
came  to  the  house  of  one  of  his  particular  friends,  in 
a  kind  manner  inquiring  after  him,  and  desiring  to 
know  where  he  lodged.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Whitefield 
received  a  letter  informing  him  that  the  writer  was  a 

nephew  of  Mr.  S ,  an  attorney  in  New  York; 

that  he  had  the  pleasure  of  supping  with  Mr.  White- 
field  at  his  uncle's  house,  and  requested  his  company 
to  sup  with  him  and  a  few  friends  at  a  tavern.  Mr. 
Whitefield  replied  to  him  that  he  was  not  accustomed 
to  sup  abroad  at  such  houses,  but  he  should  be  glad 
of  the  gentleman's  company  to  eat  a  morsel  with  him 
at  his  own  lodging.  The  gentleman  accordingly  came 
and  supped,  but  was  observed  frequently  to  look 
around  him,  and  to  be  very  absent.  At  length  he  took 
his  leave,  and  returned  to  his  companions  in  the  tavern, 
and  on  being  asked  by  them  what  he  had  done,  he  an- 
swered, that  he  had  been  treated  with  so  much  civility 
and  kindness  that  he  had  not  the  heart  to  touch  him. 
One  of  the  company,  a  lieutenant  of  a  man-of-war,  laid 
a  wager  of  ten  guineas  that  he  would  do  his  business 
for  him.  His  companions,  however,  had  the  precau- 
tion to  take  away  his  sword. 

It  was  now  about  midnight,  and  Mr.  Whitefield 
having  that  day  preached  to  a  large  congregation, 
and  visited  the  French  prisoners,  had  retired  to  rest, 
when  he  was  awoke  and  told  that  a  well-dressed  gen- 
tleman earnestly  wished  to  speak  with  him.  Suppos- 
ing that  it  was  some  person  under  conviction  of  sin, 
many  such  having  previously  called  upon  him,  he  de- 
sired him  to  be  brought  to  his  room.  The  gentleman 
came,  sat  down  by  his  bedside,  congratulated  him 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  251 

upon  the  success  of  his  ministry,  and  expressed  con- 
siderable regret  that  he  had  been  prevented  from 
hearing  him.  Soon  after,  however,  he  began  to  utter 
the  most  abusive  language,  and  in  a  cruel  and  cow- 
ardly manner  beat  him  in  his  bed.  The  landlady 
and  her  daughter,  hearing  the  noise,  rushed  into  the 
room  and  laid  hold  of  the  assailant ;  but  disengaging 
himself  from  them,  he  renewed  his  attack  on  the  un- 
offending preacher,  who,  supposing  that  he  was  about 
to  be  shot  or  stabbed,  underwent  all  the  feelings  of  a 
sudden  and  violent  death.  Soon  after,  a  second  per- 
son came  into  the  house,  and  called  from  the  bottom 
of  the  stairs,  "  Take  courage,  I  am  ready  to  help  you." 
But  by  the  repeated  cries  of  murder  the  neighborhood 
had  become  so  alarmed,  that  the  villains  were  glad 
to  make  their  escape.  "  The  next  morning,"  says  Mr. 
Whitefield,  "I  was  to  expound  at  a  private  house, 
and  then  to  set  out  for  Biddeford.  Some  urged  me  to 
stay  and  prosecute,  but  being  better  employed,  I  went 
on  my  intended  journey,  was  greatly  blessed  in  preach- 
ing the  everlasting  gospel ;  and,  upon  my  return,  was 
well  paid  for  what  I  had  suffered,  curiosity  having 
led  perhaps  two  thousand  more  than  ordinary  to  see 
and  hear  a  man  that  had  like  to  have  been  murdered 
in  his  bed.  And  I  trust,  in  the  five  weeks  that  I  waited 
for  the  convoy,  hundreds  were  awakened  and  turned 
unto  the  Lord." 

As  Whitefield  was  one  day  preaching  in  Plymouth, 
a  Mr.  Henry  Tanner,  who  was  at  work  as  a  ship- 
builder at  a  distance,  heard  his  voice,  and  resolved, 
with  five  or  six  of  his  companions,  to  go  and  drive 
him  from  the  place  where  he  stood  ;  and  for  this  pur- 


252  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

pose  they  filled  their  pockets  with  stones.  When, 
however,  Mr.  Tanner  drew  near,  and  heard  Mr. 
Whitefield  earnestly  inviting  sinners  to  Christ,  he 
was  filled  with  astonishment,  his  resolution  failed 
him,  and  he  went  home  with  his  mind  deeply  im- 
pressed. On  the  following  evening,  he  again  attend- 
ed, and  heard  Mr.  Whitefield  on  the  sin  of  those  who 
crucified  the  Redeemer.  After  he  had  forcibly  illus- 
trated their  guilt,  he  appeared  to  look  intently  on  Mr. 
Tanner,  as  he  exclaimed,  with  great  energy,  "  Thou 
art  the  man!"  These  words  powerfully  impressed 
Mr.  Tanner ;  he  felt  his  transgressions  of  the  divine 
law  to  be  awfully  great,  and  in  the  agony  of  his  soul 
he  cried,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner !"  The 
preacher  then  proceeded  to  proclaim  the  free  and 
abundant  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  which  he  com- 
manded to  be  preached  among  the  very  people  who 
had  murdered  him  ;  a  gleam  of  hope  entered  the  heart 
of  the  penitent,  and  he  surrendered  himself  to  Christ. 
Mr.  Tanner  afterwards  entered  the  ministry,  and  la- 
bored with  great  success,  for  many  years,  at  Exeter. 

We  are  not  quite  certain  whether  it  was  on  this 
or  a  subsequent  visit  to  Plymouth,  that  Whitefield 
had  preached  on  the  Sabbath  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kins- 
man, and  after  breakfast  on  Monday  morning,  said  to 
him,  "  Come,  let  us  visit  some  of  your  poor  people. 
It  is  not  enough  that  we  labor  in  the  pulpit ;  we  must 
endeavor  to  be  useful  out  of  it."  On  entering  the 
dwellings  of  the  afflicted  poor,  he  administered  to 
their  temporal  as  well  as  their  spiritual  wants.  Mr. 
Kinsman,  knowing  the  low  state  of  his  finances,  was 
surprised  at  his  liberality,  and  suggested  that  he 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.  253 

thought  he  had  been  too  bountiful.  Mr.  Whiteneld, 
with  some  degree  of  smartness,  replied,  "It  is  not 
enough,  young  man,  to  pray,  and  put  on  a  serious 
face ;  true  religion,  and  undefiled,  is  this,  to  visit  the 
widow  and  the  fatherless  in  their  affliction,  and  to 
supply  their  wants.  My  stock,  it  is  true,  is  nearly 
exhausted  ;  but  God,  whom  I  serve,  and  whose  saints 
we  have  assisted,  will,  I  doubt  not,  soon  give  me  a 
supply."  His  expectation  was  not  disappointed.  A 
stranger  called  on  him  the  same  evening,  who  said, 
"  With  great  pleasure  I  have  heard  you  preach  ;  you 
are  on  a  journey,  as  well  as  myself,  and  travelling  is 
expensive.  Do  me  the  honor  to  accept  of  this ;" 
handing  him  five  guineas,  or  twenty-five  dollars.  Re- 
turning to  the  family,  Mr.  Whitefield,  very  pleasantly 
smiling,  showed  them  the  money,  saying,  "There, 
young  man,  God  has  very  speedily  repaid  what  I  lent 
him  this  morning.  Let  this  in  future  teach  you  not  to 
withhold  what  it  is  in  the  power  of  your  hand  to  give. 
The  gentleman  to  whom  I  was  called  is  a  perfect  stran- 
ger to  me  ;  his  only  business  was  to  give  me  the  sum 
you  see."  It  was  a  singular  fact,  that  this  gentleman, 
though  rich,  was  notorious  for  a  penurious  disposition. 
During  his  stay  in  Plymouth,  Whitefield's  useful- 
ness daily  increased.  The  ferry-men,  who  obtained 
their  living  by  carrying  persons  between  Plymouth 
and  Dock,  refused  to  take  money  from  his  hearers, 
saying,  "  God  forbid  that  we  should  sell  his  word !" 
The  evangelist  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  the  thousands  that 
flock  to  the  preaching  of  Christ's  gospel!"  In  the 
midst  of  these  scenes,  the  convoy  arrived,  and  in  deli- 
cate health  he  embarked  for  America. 


254  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WHITEFIELD'S  SECOND  YISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND. 
1744,   1745. 

MR.  WHITEFIELD  commenced  his  third  voyage  to 
America  in  August,  1744.  His  health  "while  crossing 
the  Atlantic  became  worse,  rather  than  better,  the 
voyage  lasting  eleven  weeks.  He  had  set  out  in 
company  with  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  ships, 
attended  by  several  men-of-war  as  convoys,  which, 
however,  they  lost  by  storms  separating  them  on  the 
way.  It  was  more  than  six  weeks,  owing  generally 
to  want  of  wind,  before  they  reached  any  of  the  west- 
ern islands.  When  the  wind  again  sprung  up,  one  of 
the  vessels,  which  missed  stays,  drove  upon  the  ship 
in  which  Whitefield  was,  striking  her  mainsail  into 
the  bowsprit.  The  alarm  was  very  great,  but  no 
lives  were  lost.  He  had  been  singing  a  hymn  on 
deck  when  the  concussion  took  place  ;  this  fact,  to- 
gether with  that  of  the  concussion  itself,  was  commu- 
nicated to  the  convoy,  and  led  to  the  use  of  much  vio- 
lent and  wicked  language.  But  the  good  man  was  not 
intimidated.  He  says,  "  I  called  my  friends  together, 
and  broke  out  into  these  words  in  prayer :  '  God  of 
the  sea,  and  God  of  the  dry  land,  this  is  a  night  of 
rebuke  and  blasphemy.  Show  thyself,  0  God,  and 
take  us  under  thine  own  immediate  protection.  Be 
thou  our  convoy,  and  make  a  difference  between  those 
who  fear  thee,  and  those  that  fear  thee  not.'  "  A  dif- 
ference was  soon  made.  Next  day  a  heavy  storm 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          255 

arose,  which  "  battered  and  sent  away  our  convoy,  so 
that  we  saw  him  no  more  all  the  voyage."  White- 
field  at  first  did  not  at  all  regret  the  loss,  but  when 
two  strange  sail  appeared  in  the  distance,  and  prepara- 
tion was  made  for  action  by  mounting  guns,  slinging 
hammocks  on  the  sides  of  the  ships,  and  encircling  the 
masts  with  chains,  he  being,  as  he  says,  "  naturally  a 
coward,"  found  it  formidable  to  have  no  convoy.  The 
vessels,  however,  proved  to  be  only  a  part  of  their 
own  fleet.  This  was  a  pleasant  discovery  to  them, 
especially  to  Whitefield.  "  The  captain,  on  clearing 
the  cabin,  said,  '  After  all,  this  is  the  best  fighting.' 
You  may  be  sure  I  concurred,  praying  that  all  our 
conflicts  with  spiritual  enemies  might  at  last  termi- 
nate in  a  thorough  cleansing  and  an  eternal  purifica- 
tion of  the  defiled  cabin  of  our  hearts." 

The  tediousness  of  this  voyage,  in  the  feeble  state 
of  his  health,  seems  to  have  tried  Whitefield's  pa- 
tience ;  so  that  when  he  arrived  in  sight  of  the  port 
of  York,  in  the  then  territory  of  Maine,  in  order  to 
land  a  few  hours  sooner  he  went  on  board  a  fishing 
smack  then  in  the  bay;  but  darkness  coming  on,  she 
missed  her  course,  and  was  tossed  about  all  night. 
Unfortunately,  too,  she  had  no  provisions,  and  he  was 
so  hungry  that  he  says  he  "  could  have  gnawed  the 
very  boards."  Besides  he  was  suffering  from  "ner- 
vous colic."  He  was  greatly  discouraged,  until  a 
man  who  was  lying  at  his  elbow  in '  the  cabin  began 
to  talk  of  "  one  Mr.  Whitefield,  for  whose  arrival  the 
'New  Lights'  in  New  England"  were  watching  and 
praying.  "  This,"  he  says,  "  made  me  take  courage. 
I  continued  undiscovered  ;  and  in  a  few  hours,  in  an- 


256  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

swer,  I  trust,  to  new-light  prayers,  we  arrived  safe." 
This  was  on  October  19,  1744.  He  was  quite  ill 
when  he  landed  ;  but  was  received  by  Dr.  Sherburne, 
an  eminent  physician  at  York,  who  was  once  a  Deist, 
but  had  been  converted  under  Whitefield's  ministry. 
This  gentleman  took  him  to  his  own  house,  and  after 
a  few  days  he  began  to  recover. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Moody,  of  York,  the  aged  and  excel- 
lent, but  eccentric  minister  of  whom  we  have  already 
spoken,  took  the  earliest  suitable  opportunity  of  call- 
ing on  the  great  evangelist,  and  said  very  character- 
istically, "  Sir,  you  are,  first,  welcome  to  America  ; 
secondly,  to  New  England;  thirdly,  to  all  faithful 
ministers  in  New  England ;  fourthly,  to  all  the  good 
people  of  New  England ;  fifthly,  to  all  the  good  peo- 
ple of  York  ;  and  sixthly  and  lastly,  to  me,  dear  sir, 
less  than  the  least  of  all."  Prince's  "  Christian  His- 
tory "  had  announced  his  arrival,  and  that  his  inten- 
tion was  "  to  pass  on  to  Georgia ;  and  as  he  goes  on, 
to  meddle  with  no  controversies,  but  only  to  preach 
up  the  parts  of  vital  piety  and  the  pure  truths  of  the 
gospel,  to  all  who  are  willing  to  hear  them." 

After  giving  Whitefield  this  hearty  welcome, 
Moody  urged  him  for  a  sermon.  The  preacher  hesi- 
tated, on  account  of  his  illness,  but  "  good  old  Mr. 
Moody"  did  not  give  him  the- benefit  of  his  own  favor- 
ite maxim,  "  When  you  know  not  what  to  do,  you 
must  not  do  you  know  not  what."  Whitefield  preach- 
ed, and  immediately  went  to  Portsmouth,  where  he 
preached  the  same  evening,  November  6,  for  Mr. 
Fitch,  and  was  to  have  preached  again  the  next  morn- 
ing, but  was  too  ill,  and  deferred  it  till  the  afternoon. 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          251 

In  the  mean  time,  as  he-  wrote,  "  My  pains  returned  ; 
but  what  gave  me  most  concern  ,was,  that  notice  had 
been  given  of  my  being  engaged  to  preach.  I  felt  a 
divine  life,  distinct  from  my  animal  life,  which  made 
me,  as  it  were,  laugh  at  my  pains,  though  every  one 
thought  I  was  taken  with  death.  My  dear  York 
physician  was  then  about  to  administer  a  medicine. 
I  on  a  sudden  cried  out,  '  Doctor,  my  pains  are  sus- 
pended ;  by  the  help  of  God,  I  will  go  and  preach, 
and  then  come  home  and  die.'  With  some  difficulty 
I  reached  the  pulpit.  All  looked  quite  surprised,  as 
though  they  saw  one  risen  from  the  dead.  I  indeed 
was  as  pale  as  death,  and  told  them  they  must  look 
upon  me  as  a  dying  man,  eome  to  bear  my  dying  testi- 
mony to  the  truths  I  had  formerly  preached  to  them. 
All  seemed  melted,  and  were  drowned  in  tears.  The 
cry  after  me,  when  I  left  the  pulpit,  was  like  the  cry 
of  sincere  mourners  when  attending  the  funeral  of  a 
dear  departed  friend.  Upon  my  coming  home,  I  was 
laid  upon  a  bed  on  the  ground,  near  the  fire,  and  I 
heard  them  say,  '  He  is  gone.'  But  God  was  pleased 
to  order  it  otherwise.  I  gradually  recovered." 

In  another  account  he  himself  says,  "  In  my  own 
apprehension,  and  in  all  appearance  to  others,  I  was 
a  dying  man.  I  preached — the  people  heard  me — as 
such.  The  invisible  realities  of  another  world  lay 
open  to  my  view.  Expecting  to  launch  into  eternity, 
and  to  be  with  my  Master  before  the  morning,  I  spoke 
with  peculiar  energy.  Such  effects  followed  the  word, 
I  thought  it  was  worth  dying  for  a  thousand  times. 
Though  wonderfully  comforted  within  at  my  return 
home,  I  thought  I  was  dying  indeed Soon  after, 


258  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

a  poor  negro  woman  would  see  me.  She  came,  sat 
down  upon  the  ground,  and  looked  earnestly  in  my 
face,  and  then  said,  '  Massa,  you  just  go  to  heaven's 
gate,  but  Jesus  Christ  said,  Get  you  down,  get  you 
down  ;  you  must  not  come  here  yet ;  but  go  first,  and 
call  some  more  poor  negroes.'  I  prayed  to  the  Lord, 
that  if  I  was  to  live,  this  might  be  the  event.v 

It  was  nearly  three  weeks  before  he  was  sufficiently 
recovered  to  proceed  to  Boston.  The  day  before  he 
left  Portsmouth  Mr.  Shurtleff  wrote,  "  The  prejudices 
of  most  that  set  themselves  against  him  before  his 
coming,  seem  to  be  in  a  great  measure  abated,  and  in 
some,  to  be  wholly  removed  ;  and  there  is  no  open 
opposition  made  to  him.  I  have  frequent  opportuni- 
ties of  being  with  him,  and  there  always  appears  in 
him  such  a  concern  for  the  advancement  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  and  the  good  of  souls,  such  a  care 
to  employ  his  whole  time  to  these  purposes,  such 
sweetness  of  disposition,  and  so  much  of  the  temper 
of  his  great  Lord  and  Master,  that  every  time  I  see 
him,  I  find  my  heart  further  drawn  out  towards  him." 

"  Prince's  Christian  History,"  of  December  15,  says, 
"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  was  so  far  revived  as  to  be 
able  to  take  coach  with  his  consort,  and  set  out  from 
Portsmouth  to  Boston,  Nov.  24 ;  whither  he  came  in 
a  very  feeble  state,  the  Monday  evening  after  ;  since 
which  he  has  been  able  to  preach  in  several  of  our 
largest  houses  of  public  worship,  particularly  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Colman's,  Dr.  Sewall's,  Mr.  Webb's,  and  Mr. 
Gee's,  to  crowded  assemblies  of  people,  and  to  great 
and  growing  acceptance.  At  Dr.  Colman's  desire, 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  church,  on  the  Lord's  day 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          259 

after  his  arrival,  he  administered  to  them  the  holy 
communion.  And  last  Lord's  day  he  preached  for  the 
venerable  Mr.  Cheever,  of  Chelsea,  and  administered 
the  holy  supper  there.  The  next  day  he  preached  for 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Maiden.  Yesterday  he  set 
out  to  preach  for  some  towns  to  the  northward  ;  pro- 
poses to  return  hither  the  next  Wednesday  evening, 
and  after  a  few  days  to  comply  with  the  earnest 
invitations  of  several  ministers  to  go  and  preach  to 
their  congregations,  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  prov- 
ince. 

"  He  comes  with  the  same  extraordinary  spirit  of 
meekness,  sweetness,  and  universal  benevolence  as 
before.  In  opposition  to  the  spirit  of  separation  and 
bigotry,  he  is  still  for  holding  communion  with  all 
Protestant  churches.  In  opposition  to  enthusiasm, 
he  preaches  a  close  adherence  to  the  Scriptures,  the 
necessity  of  trying  all  impressions  by  them,  and  of 
rejecting  whatever  is  not  agreeable  to  them,  as  delu- 
sions. In  opposition  to  Antinomianism,  he  preaches 
up  all  kinds  of  relative  and  religious  duties,  though 
to  be  performed  in  the  strength  of  Christ ;  and,  in 
short,  the  doctrines  of  the  church  of  England,  and  the 
first  fathers  of  this  country.  As  before,  he  first 
applies  himself  to  the  understandings  of  his  hearers, 
and  then  to  the  affections  ;  and  the  more  he  preaches, 
the  more  he  convinces  people  of  their  mistakes  about 
him,  and  increases  their  satisfaction." 

The  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper  by  a  priest 
of  the  church  of  England  in  the  Congregational  church 
in  Brattle-street,  Boston,  gave  great  offence.  Some 
said,  the  consent  of  the  church  was  neither  given  nor 


260  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

asked,  and  Dr.  Colman  was  blamed  for  introducing 
"Wliitefield  by  his  own  authority;  to  which  Dr.  Col- 
man  replied,  that,  as  it  was  customary  for  pastors  to 
invite  the  assistance  of  other  ministers  on  such  occa- 
sions, he  thought  it  unnecessary  to  call  for  a  vote  of 
the  church  ;  that  he  plainly  intimated  his  intention  in 
his  prayer  after  sermon,  and  then,  on  coming  to  the 
table,  said,  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  being  proVi- 
dentially  with  us,  I  have  asked  him  to  administer  the 
ordinance ;"  and  that  by  the  countenances  of  the  peo- 
ple it  seemed  to  be  universally  agreeable  to  them, 
which  he  supposed  to  be  all  the  consent  which  the 
case  required. 

Since  Mr.  Whitefield's  former  visit  to  New  Eng- 
land, a  considerable  change  had  taken  place  in  not  a 
few  of  the  ministers  and  churches.  In  1740,  he  had 
inveighed  strongly  against  many  of  the  ministers,  some 
of  them  oven  by  name,  as,  in  his  opinion,  unconverted  ; 
and  after  his  departure,  some  preachers,  who  profess- 
ed themselves  to  be  his  followers,  had  created  great 
confusion  by  carrying  these  charges  much  farther  than 
he  would  have  approved.  His  second  visit  was  there- 
fore anticipated  by  many  with  anxiety,  lest  it  might 
cause  a  new  outbreak  of  enthusiasm  and  disorder. 
The  General  Association  of  Connecticut,  in  June, 
1745,  advised  that  he  be  not  invited  to  preach  in  any 
of  the  churches.  When  he  visited  New  Haven,  he 
found  himself  shut  out  of  the  pulpit  of  the  First  church 
by  its  minister  Mr.  Noyes.  A  great  crowd,  however, 
assembled  to  hear  him,  from  the  neighboring  towns, 
as  well  as  from  New  Haven,  and  he  preached  from  a 
platform  erected  in  the  street,  before  Mr.  Pierpont's 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.         261 

house  on  the  Green,  to  a  congregation  which  neither 
of  the  meeting-houses  could  have  contained. 

From  Professor  Kingsley's  "  Sketch  of  the  History 
of  Yale  College,"  we  learn  that  "President  Clap 
issued  a  declaration,  signed  by  himself  and  three 
tutors,  that  is,  Samuel  Whittlesey,  afterwards  minis- 
ter of  the  First  church  in  New  Haven,  Thomas  Dar- 
ling, for  many  years  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  the  county  of  New  Haven,  and  John 
Whiting,  in  which  some  of  the  proceedings  of  Mr. 
Whitefield  were  condemned.  In  consequence  of  the 
religious  fervor  which  had  been  excited,  a  much  greater 
diversity  *of  theological  opinions  prevailed  in  Con- 
necticut than  at  any  previous  period.  Violent  con- 
troversies arose,  churches  were  divided,  and  the  gov- 
ernment, by  interfering  to  prevent  these  evils,  increased 
rather  than  checked  them.  The  college  became  an 
object  of  jealousy ;  and  the  declaration  of  the  rector 
and  tutors,  respecting  the  preaching  of  Whitefield, 
offended  some,  without  effectually  conciliating  others." 

The  opposition  to  Mr.  Whitefield  of  which  we 
have  spoken,  was  by  no  means  all  that  he  met  with. 
Even  before  the  Association  in  Connecticut  had  taker, 
action,  several  similar  bodies  in  Massachusetts  had 
acted  in  a  similar  manner.  The  corporation  of  Har- 
vard college  published  a  testimony  against  him,  while 
that  of  Yale  represented  that  he  intended  to  root  out 
all  the  standing  ministers  in  our  land,  and  to  intro- 
duce foreigners  in  their  stead.  The  good  man,  not- 
withstanding all  this  opposition,  and  much  more,  went 
on  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  God  still 
honored  him  with  success. 


262  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

While  the  impartiality  to  which  we  hold  ourselves 
bound  demanded  the  statement  just  made,  and  while 
we  are  compelled  to  admit  the  existence  of  evils 
attendant  on  these  revivals,  we  also  record  some  of 
the  facts  connected  with  a  convention  of  ministers, 
who  assembled  in  Boston  in  pursuance  of  a  previous 
notice  in  the  Boston  Gazette  of  May  30,  1743.  We 
copy  the  original  invitation. 

"  It  is  desired  and  proposed  by  a  number  of  minis- 
ters, both  in  town  and  country,  that  such  of  their 
brethren  as  are  persuaded  that  there  has  been  of  late 
a  happy  revival  of  religion  through  an  extraordinary 
divine  influence,  in  many  parts  of  this  land,  and  are 
concerned  for  the  honor  and  progress  of  this  remark- 
able work  of  God,  may  have  an  interview  at  Boston, 
the  day  after  the  approaching  commencement,  to  con- 
sider whether  they  are  not  called  to  give  an  open, 
conjunct  testimony  to  an  event  so  surprising  and  gra- 
cious ;  as  well  as  against  those  errors  in  doctrine,  and 
disorders  in  practice,  which  through  the  permitted 
agency  of  Satan  have  attended  it,  and  in  any  meas- 
ure blemished  its  glory  and  hindered  its  advancement ; 
and  also  to  consult  as  to  the  most  likely  method  to  be 
taken  to  guard  people  against  such  delusions  and  mis- 
takes as  in  such  a  season  they  are- in  danger  of  falling 
into,  and  that  this  blessed  work  may  continue  and 
flourish  among  us."  Those  who  could  not  be  present 
were  invited  to  send  written  attestations. 

In  accordance  with  this  proposal,  the  convention 
met  in  Boston  on  Thursday,  July  7.  The  Kev.  Dr. 
Sewall  of  Boston  officiated  as  Moderator,  and  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Prince  of  Boston,  and  Hobby  of  Reading,  as 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          263 

Scribes.  Ninety  persons  thus  assembled,  and  letters 
were  read  from  twenty-eight  who  were  absent.  A 
committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sewall,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Wigglesworth,  Prince,  Ad- 
ams, Cooper,  Nathanael  Rogers,  Leonard,  and  Hobby, 
to  prepare  a  report.  On  the  next  morning  this  com- 
mittee presented  a  document,  which,  after  full  discus- 
sion, was  signed  by  all  present ;  and  the  meeting  was 
dissolved. 

Our  limits  will  not  allow  us  to  give  the  whole  of 
the  report  to  which  we  have  referred,  but  a  few  sen- 
tences will  show  its  general  character : 

"  We,  whose  names  are  undersigned,  think  it  our 
indispensable  duty — without  judging  or  censuring  such 
of  our  brethren  as  cannot  at  present  see  things  in  the 
same  light  with  us — in  this  open  and  conjunct  manner 
to  declare,  to  the  glory  of  sovereign  grace,  our  full 
persuasion,  either  from  what  we  have  seen  ourselves, 
or  received  upon  credible  testimony,  that  there  has 
been  a  happy  and  remarkable  revival  of  religion  in 
many  parts  of  this  land,  through  an  uncommon  divine 
influence,  after  a  long  time  of  decay  and  deadness,  and  a 
sensible  and  very  awful  withdrawal  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
from  his  sanctuary  among  us.  ...  The  present  work 
seems  to  be  remarkable  and  extraordinary,  on  account 
of  the  numbers  wrought  upon.  We  never  before  saw 
so  many  brought  under  soul  concern,  and  with  great 
distress  making  the  inquiry,  'What  must  we  do  to 
be  saved  ?'  And  these  persons  were  of  all  ages  and 
character.  With  regard  to  the  suddenness  and  quick 
progress  of  it,  many  persons  and  places  were  surprised 
with  the  gracious  visit  together,  or  near  about  the 


264  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

same  time,  and  the  heavenly  influence  diffused  itself 
far  and  wide,  like  the  light  of  the  morning.  Also 
[the  work  seems  to  be  remarkable]  in  respect  to  the 
degree  of  operations,  both  in  a  way  of  terror,  and  in 
a  way  of  consolation,  attended  in  many  with  unusual 
bodily  effects.  Not  that  all  who  are  accounted  the 
subjects  of  the  present  work  have  had  these  extraor- 
dinary degrees  of  previous  distress  and  subsequent  joy. 
But  many,  and  we  suppose  the  greater  number,  have 
been  wrought  on  in  a  more  gentle  and  silent  way, 
and  without  any  other  appearances  than  are  common 
and  usual  at  other  times,  when  persons  have  been 
awakened  to  a  solemn  concern  about  salvation,  and 
have  been  thought  to  have  passed  out  of  a  state  of 
nature  into  a  state  of  grace.  As  to  those  whose  in- 
ward concern  has  occasioned  extraordinary  outward 
distresses,  the  most  of  them,  when  we  came  to  con- 
verse with  them,  were  able  to  give  what  appeared  to 
us  a  rational  account  of  what  so  affected  their 
minds.  .  .  .  The  instances  were  very  few  in  which 
we  had  reason  to  think  these  affections  were  produced 
by  visionary  or  sensible  representations,  or  by  any 
other  images  than  such  as  the  Scripture  itself  presents 
to  us.  Of  those  who  were  judged  hopefully  convert- 
ed, and  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  there 
have  been  fewer  instances  of  scandal  and  apostasy 
than  might  be  expected.  .  .  .  There  appears  to  be 
more  experimental  godliness  and  lively  Christianity 
than  most  of  us  can  remember  we  have  ever  seen' be- 
fore. .  .  .  And  now  we  desire  to  bow  the  knee  in 
thanksgiving  to  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  that  our  eyes  have  seen  and  our  ears 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          265 

heard  such  things.  And  while  these  are  our  senti- 
ments, we  must  necessarily  be  grieved  at  any  accounts 
sent  abroad  representing  this  work  as  all  enthusiasm, 
delusion,  and  disorder.  Indeed,  it  is  not  to  be  denied, 
that  in  some  places  many  irregularities  and  extrava- 
gances have  been  permitted  to  accompany  it,  which 
we  would  deeply  bewail  and  lament  before  God,  and 
look  upon  ourselves  obliged,  for  the  honor  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  of  his  operations  on  the  souls  of 
men,  to  bear  a  public  and  faithful  testimony  against ; 
though  at  the  same  time  it  is  to  be  acknowledged, 
with  much  thankfulness,  that  in  other  places  where 
the  work  has  greatly  flourished,  there  have  been  few 
if  any  of  those  disorders  and  excesses.  But  who  can 
wonder  if,  at  such  a  time  as  this,  Satan  should  inter- 
mingle himself  to  hinder  and  blemish  a  work  so 
directly  contrary  to  the  interests  of  his  own  king- 
dom? .  .  .  Finally,  we  exhort  the  children  of  God  to 
continue  instant  in  prayer,  that  He,  with  whom  is  the 
residue  of  the  Spirit,  would  grant  us  fresh,  more  plen- 
tiful, and  extensive  effusions,  that  so  this  wilderness, 
in  all  the  parts  of  it,  may  become  a  fruitful  field; 
that  the  present  appearances  may  be  an  earnest  of  the 
glorious  things  promised  in  the  latter  days,  when  she 
shall  shine  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord  arisen  upon 
her,  so  as  to  dazzle  the  eyes  of  beholders,  confound 
and  put  to  shame  all  her  enemies,  rejoice  the  hearts  of 
her  solicitous  and  now  saddened  friends,  and  have 
a  strong  influence  and  resplendency  throughout  the 
earth.  Amen.  Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus ;  come 
quickly." 

This  paper  was  signed  by  eighteen  ministers  in  the 

Whiteficld.  1 2 


266  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

county  of  Suffolk,  among  whom  were  Colman,  Sewall, 
Prince,  Webb,  Cooper,  Foxcroft,  Checkly,  Gee,  Eliot, 
and  Moorhead  of  Boston ;  twelve  in  the  county  of 
Essex,  nine  in  Middlesex,  six  in  Worcester,  ten  in 
Plymouth,  one  in  Barnstable,  three  in  Bristol,  three 
in  York,  five  in  New  Hampshire,  and  one  in  Rhode 
Island.  There  were  one  hundred  and  fourteen  in  all 
who  gave  attestations,  either  by  signing  their  names 
to  the  above  document,  or  by  sending  written  attesta- 
tions. Ninety-six  of  the  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
took  their  first  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  more  than 
ten  years  previously ;  consequently  before  the  revival 
commenced.  Twenty-six  took  their  first  degrees 
above  thirty  years  before.  Attestations  were  received 
but  from  twelve  ministers  in  Connecticut,  as  the  pro- 
posal did  not  reach  them  in  time. 

We  may  add  to  this  statement,  as  showing  in  some 
degree  the  extent  of  this  revival,  that  while  in  1729 
the  number  of  members  in  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  churches  of  this  country  may  be  esti- 
mated at  thirty-three  thousand,  the  number  of  com- 
municants in  1745  could  not  be  less  than  seventy -five 
thousand.  "  The  special  revivals  of  religion,"  says  an 
able  writer  in  the  "American  Quarterly  Register," 
vol.  4,  1832,  "were  probably  the  means  of  adding 
from  twenty  thousand  to  thirty  thousand  members  to 
the  churches."  The  same  writer  adds,  "  The  gen- 
uine fruits  of  holiness  appeared,  according  to  the  ac- 
knowledgment of  all  parties,  in  multitudes  of  those 
who  professed  religion.  They  were  Christians,  who 
endured  unto  the  end.  This  is  the  unanimous  testi- 
mony of  those  men  who  were  the  best  able  to  judge. 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          267 

Great  numbers  who  were  convinced  of  sin  by  Mr. 
Whitefield's  preaching,  gave  ample  evidence,  living 
and  dying,  of  sincere  and  fervent  love  to  the  com- 
mands of  God.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  a 
preparation  had  been  made  for  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  many  years  before  the  revival  commenced.  The 
fasts  and  public  reformations,  the  prayers  and  tears  of 
good  men,  from  1700  to  1730,  were  not  in  vain." 

One  fact  connected  with  the  testimony  against 
Whitefield,  published  by  the  faculty  of  Harvard  col- 
lege, we  quote,  as  showing  that  then,  as  well  as  now, 
a  difference  of  opinion  existed  as  to  written  and  ex- 
tempore sermons.  They  thought  his  extempore  man- 
ner of  preaching  "  by  no  means  proper,"  because  ex- 
tempore preachers  are  of  necessity  less  instructive, 
the  greater  part  of  the  sermon  being  commonly  "  the 
same  kind  of  harangue  which  they  have  often  used 
before,  so  that  this  is  a  most  lazy  manner  "  of  preach- 
ing ;  and  because  it  exposes  the  preacher  to  utter  rash 
expressions,  and  even  dangerous  errors,  as  Whitefield 
they  thought,  had  done  in  several  instances,  probably 
from  that  cause.  Assuredly  he  preferred  extempore 
preaching  to  any  other ;  yet  he  never  pretended  to 
preach  without  previous  study.  His  sermons  usually 
cost  him  as  much  previous  labor  as  if  they  had  been 
written  ;  so  that,  in  his  case  at  least,  it  was  not  "  a 
lazy  way  "  of  preaching.  The  errors  which  they  said 
he  had  uttered,  were  a  few  hasty  expressions,  which 
he  had  retracted  as  soon  as  he  had  been  reminded  of 
them. 

Itinerancy,  which  had  also  been  objected  against 
Whitefield  as  one  of  his  crimes,  he  strenuously  de- 


268  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

fended  as  scriptural  and  right ;  understanding  an 
evangelist  to  be,  what  they  said  an  itinerant  was, 
"  One  that  hath  no  particular  charge  of  his  own,  but 
goes  about  from  country  to  country,  or  from  town  to 
town  in  any  country,  and  stands  ready  to  preach  to 
any  congregation  that  shall  call  him  to  it."  For  the 
divine  command,  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,"  he  argued,  "  au- 
thorizes the  ministers  of  Christ,  even  to  the  end  of 
the  world,  to  preach  the  gospel  in  every  town  and 
country,  though  not '  of  their  own  head/  yet  whenever 
and  wherever  Providence  should  open  a  door,  even 
though  it  should  be  in  a'  place  '  where  officers  are 
already  settled,  and  the  gospel  is  fully  and  faithfully 
preached.'  This,  I  humbly  apprehend,  is  every  gospel 
minister's  indisputable  privilege."  He  further  asked, 
"  Was  not  the  Reformation  begun  and  carried  on  by 
itinerant  preaching?"  He  then  quoted  from  "Bax- 
ter's Reformed  Pastor,"  a  plan  which  had  been  adopt- 
ed in  some  parts  of  England,  for  circular  lectures  by 
settled  ministers  selected  for  the  purpose,  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  pastors. 

In  reference  to  Harvard  college,  Whitefield  lived 
long  enough  to  take  a  Christian's  revenge.  In  1764, 
he  solicited  from  his  friends  donations  of  books  for 
their  library,  which  had  recently  been  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  four  years  afterwards,  while  his  old  oppo- 
nent President  Holy oke 'was  yet  in  office,  the  fol- 
lowing minute  was  entered  on  their  records  :  "  At  a 
meeting  of  the  President  and  Fellows  of  Harvard  col- 
lege, August  22, 1768,  the  Rev.  G.  Whitefield  having, 
in  addition  to  his  former  kindness  to  Harvard  college, 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          269 

lately  presented  to  the  library  a  new  edition  of  his 
Journals,  and  having  procured  large  benefactions  from 
'  several  benevolent  and  respectable  gentlemen ;  voted, 
that  the  thanks  of  the  corporation  be  given  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  for  these  instances  of  candor 
and  generosity." 

It  will  be  readily  supposed,  that  notwithstanding 
all  the  opposition  which  Whitefield  met,  there  were 
yet  many  thousands  always  ready  to  attend  on  his 
ministry.  It  was  now  the  close  of  1744,  but  the  cold 
of  winter  did  not  prevent  vast  crowds  assembling  at 
early  services  long  before  daylight.  Speaking  of  the 
opposition  he  met,  "  so  that,"  says  he,  "  for  a  while 
my  situation  was  rendered  uncomfortable,"  he  adds, 
"  But  amidst  all  this  smoke  a  blessed  fire  broke  out. 
The  awakened  souls  were  as  eager  as  ever  to  hear 
the  word.  Having  heard  that  I  expounded  early  in 
Scotland,  they  begged  that  I  would  do  the  same  in 
Boston.  I  complied,  and  opened  a  lecture  at  six  in 
the  morning.  I  seldom  preached  to  less  than  two 
thousand.  It  was  delightful  to  see  so  many  of  both 
sexes  neatly  dressed  flocking  to  hear  the  word,  and 
returning  home  to  family  prayer  and  breakfast  before 
the  opposers  were  out  of  their  beds." 

The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  tells  us, 
that  when  he  was  at  Boston,  in  1800,  he  found  in  the 
Old  South  church  a  lingering  relic  of  Whitefield's 
;  times,  in  a  convert  of  his  day,  a  lady  between  eighty 
and  ninety  years  of  age,  who  belonged  to  a  prayer- 
meeting  founded  then,  which  had  been  kept  up  weekly 
until  within  a  few  years.  Of  this,  she  was  the  only 
surviving  member. 


270  _  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

The  "  Evening  Post,"  which  seems  to  have  been 
on  the  side  of  those  who  opposed  Whitefield,  in  its 
issue  of  March  11,  1745,  says,  "Prince,  Webb,  Fox- 
croft,  "and  Gee,  are  the  directors  of  Mr.  Whitefield's 
public  conduct,  as  he  himself  has  lately  declared  at 
Newbury."  He  had  other  powerful  friends  among 
the  clergy,  and  still  more  among  the  laity,  who  invited 
him  by  vote  into  some  pulpits,  where  the  pastors  were 
"shy  "of  him. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  we  find  him  at  Ipswich, 
where  he  spent  several  days.  Mr.  Pickering,  of  the 
Second  church,  declined  admitting  him  into  his  pulpit, 
and  assigned  his  reasons  in  a  letter,  which  was  pub- 
lished. It  contains  the  usual  objections  set  forth  in 
the  various  "  testimonies,"  and  is  remarkable  only  for 
one  convenient  metaphor.  The  Bishop  of  London  had 
published  on  "  Lukewarmness  and  Enthusiasm."  White- 
field  had  said  in  reply,  "  All  ought  to  be  thankful  to 
that  pilot  who  will  teach  them  to  steer  a  safe  and 
middle  course;"  and  Pickering  wittily  asks,  "But 
what  if  the  pilot  should  take  the  vane  for  the  corn- 


Early  in  March  we  find  him  making  an  excursion 
into  the  east,  as  we  hear  of  him  both  at  Berwick  and 
Portland,  in  the  then  territory  of  Maine.  In  the  lat- 
ter place,  he  not  only  made  a  powerful  impression  on 
the  people,  but  on  their  minister.  In  the  outset  a 
strong  feeling  existed  against  his  preaching  in  the 
pulpit  of  the  First  church.  Mr.  Smith,  the  pastor, 
says  in  his  "  Journal,"  "  The  parish  are  like  to  be  in  a 
flame  on  account  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  coming ;  the  lead- 
ing men  violently  opposing."  Under  the  date  of  May 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          211 

19,  after  Whitefield's  departure,  we  find  in  the  "Jour- 
nal "  a  remarkable  passage :  "  For  several  Sabbaths, 
and  the  lecture,  I  have  been  all  in  a  blaze ;  never  in 
such  a  flame,  and  what  I  would  attend  to  is,  that  it 
was  not  only  involuntary,  but  actually  determined 
against.  I  went  to  meeting  resolving  to  be  calm  and 
moderate,  lest  people  should  think  it  was  wildness 
and  affectation  to  ape  Mr.  Whitefield ;  but  God,  I 
see,  makes  use  of  me  as  he  pleases,  and  I  am  only  a 
machine  in  his  hand." 

About  the  middle  of  March,  we  find  our  evangelist 
at  Exeter,  where  he  afterwards  preached  his  last  ser- 
mon. Here  some  of  the  more  zealous  members  of  the 
church  had  withdrawn,  and  formed  a  new  church. 
Their  conduct  had  been  sanctioned  by  one  council, 
and  censured  by  another,  two  years  before  this  time. 
Whitefield  preached  to  them  twice,  though  Mr.  Odlin, 
the  pastor  of  the  church  from  which  they  had  with- 
drawn, "  solemnly  warned  and  charged  him  against 
preaching  in  his  parish."  So  says  the  "  Evening  Post," 
of  March  25,  which  further  calls  the  people  to  whom 
he  preached,  "  Separatists." 

In  this  spring  of  1745,  the  first  expedition  for  the 
capture  froin  the  French  of  the  island  of  Cape  Breton, 
near  Nova  Scotia,  was  set  on  foot.  Colonel  Pepperell, 
a  warm  personal  friend  of  Whitefield,  and  the  only 
native  of  New  England  who  was  created  a  Baronet  of 
Great  Britain,  was  then  at  Boston,  constantly  attend- 
ing Whitefield's  lectures.  On  the  day  before  he  ac- 
cepted a  commission  to  be  general  in  that  expedition, 
he  asked  his  opinion  of  the  matter,  and  was  told,  with 
the  preacher's  usual  frankness,  that  he  did  not  indeed 


272  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

think  that  the  scheme  proposed  for  taking  Louisburgh 
would  be  very  promising ;  and  that  the  eyes  of  all 
would  be  upon  him.  If  he  did  not  succeed,  the  wid- 
ows and  orphans  of  the  slain  soldiers  would  be  like 
lions  robbed  of  their  whelps  ;  but  if  it  pleased  God  to 
give  him  success,  envy  would  endeavor  to  eclipse  his 
glory  :  he  had  need,  therefore,  if  he  went,  to  go  with 
a  single  eye ;  and  then  there  was  no  doubt,  if  Provi- 
dence really  called  him,  he  would  find  his  strength 
equal  to  the  difficulties  with  which  he  would  have  to 
contend. 

About  the  same  time,  Mr.  Sherburne,  another  of 
Whitefield's  friends,  being  appointed  one  of  the  com- 
missioners, told  him  he  must  favor  the  expedition, 
otherwise  the  pious  people  would  be  discouraged  from 
enlisting ;  not  only  did  he  say  this,  but  he  insisted 
that  the  evangelist  should  give  him  a  motto  for  his 
flag,  for  the  encouragement  of  his  soldiers.  White- 
field  refused  to  do  this,  as  it  would  not  be  consistent 
with  his  character  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  of  peace. 
But  as  Sherburne  would  take  no  denial,  he  gave  him, 
Nil  desperandum,  Christo  Duce — [Nothing  to  be  de- 
spaired of,  Christ  being  leader.]  In  these  circum- 
stances a  large  number  of  men  enlisted. 

The  soldiers  and  their  officers  now  went  farther, 
and  before  their  embarkation  requested  him  to  give 
them  a  sermon.  He  preached  to  them  from  the  text, 
"  And  every  one  that  was  in  distress,  and  every  one 
that  was  in  debt,  and  every  one  that  was  discontent- 
ed, gathered  themselves  unto  him  ;  and  he  became 
a  captain  over  them."  1  Samuel  22  :  2.  From  this 
somewhat  singular  text,  he  discoursed  on  the  manner 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.         273 

in  which  distressed  sinners  came  to  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  David ;  and  in  his  application,  exhorted  the 
soldiers  to  behave  like  the  soldiers  of  David,  and  the 
officers  to  act  like  David's  worthies ;  saying,  that  if 
they  did  so,  there  would  be  good  news  from  Cape 
Breton.  After  this  he  preached  to  the  general  him- 
self, who  invited  him  to  become  one  of  his  chaplains. 
Whitefield  declined  this,  saying,  that  though  he  should 
esteem  this  an  honor,  yet,  as  he  generally  preached 
three  times  a  day,  to  large  congregations,  he  could 
do  more  service  by  stirring  up  the  people  to  pray, 
thus  strengthening  the  hearts  and  hands  of  the  army. 
In  this  practice  he  persevered  during  the  whole  siege 
of  Louisburgh.  "  I  believe,"  said  he,  "  if  ever  people 
went  with  a  disinterested  view,  the  New  Englanders 
did  then.  Though  many  of  them  were  raw  and  un- 
disciplined, yet  numbers  were  substantial  persons,  who 
left  their  farms  and  willingly  ventured  all  for  their 
country's  good.  An  amazing  series  of  providences 
appeared,  and  though  some  discouraging  accounts 
were  sent  during  the  latter  end  of  the  siege,  yet  in 
about  six  weeks  news  came  of  the  surrender  of  Louis- 
burgh.  Numbers  nocked  from  all  quarters  to  hear  a 
thanksgiving  sermon,  upon  the  occasion.  And  I  trust 
the  blessing  bestowed  upon  the  country  through  the 
thanksgivings  of  many,  redounded  to  the  glory  of 
God." 

Some  time  before  this,  the  people  of  Boston  had 
proposed  to  build  for  Whitefield  "  the  largest  place 
of  worship  ever  seen  in  America,"  in  which  he  should 
regularly  preach ;  but,  as  usual,  he  feared  this  plan 
would  abridge  his  liberty  of  itinerating :  he  thanked 
12* 


214  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

them  for  their  offer,  but  decidedly  declined  to  accept 
it.  As  his  bodily  strength  increased,  he  began  to 
move  southward,  and  went  through  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticut,  preaching  to  thousands  generally  twice 
a  day.  He  says,  "  Though  there  was  much  smoke,  yet 
every  day. I  had  more  and  more  convincing  proof  that 
a  blessed  gospel  fire  had  been  kindled  in  the  hearts 
both  of  ministers  and  people." 

About  this  time  occurred  a  fact  which  delightfully 
shows  how  the  enemies  of  this  admirable  man  were 
often  converted  into  friends.  A  colored  trumpeter 
belonging  to  the  English  army  resolved  to  inter- 
rupt him  while  delivering  a  sermon  in  the  open  air. 
For  this  purpose  he  went  to  the  field,  carrying  his 
trumpet  with  him,  intending  to  blow  it  with  all  his 
might  about  the  middle  of  the  sermon.  He  took  his 
station  in  front  of  the  minister,  and  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  him.  The  crowd  became  very  great,  and 
those  who  were  towards  the  extremity  pressed  for- 
ward, that  they  might  hear  more  distinctly,  and  caused 
such  a  pressure  where  the  poor  trumpeter  stood,  that 
he  found  it  impossible  at  the  time  when  he  intended 
to  blow  his  trumpet,  to  raise  the  arm  which  held  it, 
by  which  means  he  was  kept  within  the  sound  of  the 
gospel  as  effectually  as  if  he  had  been  chained  to  the 
spot.  In  a  short  time  Ms  attention  was  powerfully 
arrested,  and  he  became  so  deeply  affected  by  the 
statements  of  the  preacher,  that  he  was  seized  with 
all  the  agonies  of  despair,  and  was  carried  to  a 
house  in  the  neighborhood.  After  the  service,  he 
was  visited  by  Mr.  Whitefield,  who  gave  him  suitable 
counsels,  and  from  that  time  the  trumpeter  became  a 


SECOND  VISIT  TO  NEW  ENGLAND.          275 

greatly  altered  man.     So  true  is  it  in  reference  to  the 
omnipotent  and  gracious  Being, 

"  Hearts  base  as  hell  he  can  control, 
And  spread  new  powers  throughout  the  whole." 

While  preaching  at  Boston,  he  was  delighted  to 
observe  that  the  sheriff,  who  had  heretofore  been  the 
leader  of  the  persecution  against  him,  now  began  to 
hear  him  preach  ;  and  his  pleasure  was  vastly  in- 
creased, when  he  saw  the  crowds  come  around  him 
to  inquire  as  to  their  highest  interests. 

Among  these  crowds  was  a  somewhat  remarkable 
gentleman  of  that  city.  He  was  a  man  of  ready  wit 
and  racy  humor,  who  delighted  in  preaching  over  a 
bottle  to  his  ungodly  companions.  He  went  to  hear 
Whitefield,  that  he  might  be  furnished  with  matter  for 
a  "  tavern  harangue."  When  he  had  heard  enough  of 
the  sermon  for.  his  purpose,  he  endeavored  to  quit  the 
church  for  the  inn,  but  "  found  his  endeavors  to  get 
out  fruitless,  he  was  so  pent  up."  While  thus  fixed, 
and  waiting  for  "  fresh  matter  of  ridicule,"  the  truth 
took  possession  of  his  heart.  That  night  he  went  to 
Mr.  Prince  full  of  terror,  and  sought  an  introduction 
to  ask  pardon  of  the  preacher.  Whitefield  says  of 
him,  "  By  the  paleness,  pensiveness,  and  horror  of  his 
countenance,  I  guessed  he  was  the  man  of  whom  I  had 
been  apprized.  '  Sir,  can  you  forgive  me  ?'  he  cried 
in  a  low,  but  plaintive  voice.  I  smiled,  and  said, '  Yes, 
sir,  very  readily.'  '  Indeed,'  he  said, '  you  cannot  when 
I  tell  you  all."  I  then  asked  him  to  sit  down ;  and 
judging  that  he  had  sufficiently  felt  the  lash  of  the 
law,  I  preached  the  gospel  to  him."  This,  with  other 
remarkable  conversions,  gave  increasing  energy  and 


216  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

influence  to  his  preaching  in  Boston.  "  My  bodily 
strength,"  he  says,  "  is  recovered,  and  my  soul  more 
than  ever  in  love  with  a  crucified  Jesus." 

Another  illustration  may  also  be  here  given  of  the 
meekness  and  gentleness  which  usually  characterized 
our  evangelist  in  his  intercourse  with  his  brethren. 
In  his  later  visits  to  New  England,  it  was  Whitefield's 
usual  practice  to  spend  a  few  days  with  Dr.  Hopkins. 
On  one  of  these  occasions,  after  preaching  for  the  doc- 
tor on  the  Sabbath,  the  next  day  he  proposed  a  ride 
into  the  country  for  exercise.  During  the  ride,  White- 
field  spoke  with  regret  of  the  views  of  their  "  good 
brother  Edwards  on  the  subject  of  the  witness  of  the 
Holy  Spirit."  "  Ah,"  asked  Dr.  Hopkins,  "  and  what 
is  the  error  ?"  Here  Whitefield  made  a  long  pause  • 
and  Hopkins  continued  the  conversation :  "  Do  you 
believe,  Mr.  Whitefield,  that  the  witness  of  the  Spirit 
is  a  direct  communication  from  God  ?"  "  I  cannot  say 
that  I  do,"  was  the  reply.  "Well,  do  you  believe 
that  Christians  have  any  other  witness  of  the  Spirit 
than  that  afforded  by  the  testimony  of  their  own  holy 
affections?"  "I  cannot  say  that  I  do,"  Mr.  White- 
field  again  replied.  "Do  you  believe  it  to  be  any 
thing  more  or  less,"  continued  Hopkins,  "than  the 
Spirit  producing  in  the  heart  the  gracious  exercises 
of  repentance,  faith,  etc.  ?"  "  No,  that  is  precisely  my 
view  of  it,"  said  Whitefield.  "  And  that  is  precisely 
the  view  of  good  father  Edwards,"  pleasantly  return- 
ed Dr.  Hopkins.  Whitefield  frankly  acknowledged 
his  error,  and  rejoiced  that  there  was  no  disagreement 
on  the  subject. 


IN  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  X. 

PROM  HIS  LEAVING  NEW  ENGLAND  TILL  HIS  ARRI- 
VAL IN  ENGLAND— LABORS  IN  THE  MIDDLE  AND 
SOUTHERN  STATES— THE  BERMUDAS. 

1745-1748. 

LEAVING  New  England,  Whitefield  proceeded  first 
to  New  York,  where  he  preached  as  he  had  formerly 
done,  and  found  that  the  seed  sown  in  past  days  had 
produced  much  fruit.  Proceeding  still  southward,  on 
his  way  towards  Philadelphia,  arriving  in  New  Jersey, 
he  says,  "  I  had  the  pleasure  of  preaching  by  an  inter- 
preter to  some  converted  Indians,  and  of  seeing  nearly 
fifty  young  ones  in  one  school,  near  Freehold,  learning 
the  Assembly's  Catechism."  A  blessed  awakening 
had  before  this  time  been  begun  and  carried  on  among 
the  Delaware  Indians,  by  the  ministry  of  David  Brain- 
erd  ;  no  such  work  had  been  heard  of  since  the  days 
of  the  apostolic  Eliot  in  New  England. 

Arriving  in  Philadelphia,  Whitefield  was  rejoiced 
to  find  that  his  friend  Gilbert  Tennent  was  still  blessed 
with  success  in  his  labors.  Many,  he  says,  were  un- 
der "soul-sickness,"  and  Tennent's  health  suffered 
much  with  walking  from  place  to  place  to  see  them. 
The  gentlemen  connected  with  the  new  house  in  which 
Tennent  preached,  were,  as  well  as  Tennent  himself, 
desirous  of  securing  at  least  a  portion  of  Whitefield's 
labors,  and  offered  him  eight  hundred  pounds  a  year, 
if  he  would  become  their  pastor,  and  labor  with  them 


278  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

six  months  in  the  year,  travelling  the  other  six  months 
wherever  he  thought  proper.  He  thanked  them,  but 
declined. 

Not  unfrequently  have  we  been  told  by  frigid  crit- 
ics of  the  inferior  character  of  Whitefield's  printed 
sermons.  But  have  they  not  looked  too  much  for  the 
beauties  of  style,  and  overlooked  the  simple  energy  of 
their  scriptural  truths  ?  Even  these  printed  sermons 
have,  under  God,  accomplished  wonders.  In  the  year 
1743,  a  young  gentleman  from  Scotland,  then  residing 
at  Hanover,  in  Virginia,  had  obtained  a  volume  of 
Whitefield's  sermons  preached  in  Glasgow,  and  taken 
in  shorthand,  which,  after  a  gentleman  of  Hanover, 
named  Hunt,  the  father  of  a  distinguished  Presbyte- 
rian minister  of  that  name,  had  studied  with  great 
personal  benefit,  he  invited  his  neighbors  to  visit  his 
house  to  hear  read.  By  their  plainness  and  fervor, 
attended  with  the  power  of  God,  not  a  few  became 
convinced  of  their  lost  condition  as  sinners,  and  anx- 
iously inquired  the  way  of  salvation.  The  feelings  of 
many  were  powerfully  excited,  and  they  could  not  for- 
bear bitter  and  violent  weeping.  The  intelligence 
spread,  curiosity  prompted  the  desire  of  many  others 
to  attend  such  remarkable  services;  and  one  and 
another  begged  for  admission,  till  the  houses  were 
crowded.  Numbers  were  pricked  to  the  heart;  the 
word  of  God  became  quick  and  powerful ;  and,  "  What 
shall  we  do?"  was  the  general  cry.  What  to  do  or 
say  the  principal  leaders  knew  not.  They  themselves 
had  been  led  by  a  still  small  voice,  they  hardly  knew 
how,  to  an  acquaintance  with  the  truth ;  but  now  the 
Lord  was  speaking  as  on  mount  Sinai,  with  a  voice  of 


HIS  PRINTED  SERMONS.  279 

thunder ;  and  sinners,  like  that  mountain  itself,  trem- 
bled. It  was  not  long  before  Christians  had  the  hap- 
piness to  see  a  goodly  number  healed  by  the  same 
word  that  had  wounded  them,  and  brought  to  rejoice 
in  Christ,  and  his  great  salvation.  "  My  dwelling- 
place,"  said  Mr.  Morris,  one  of  their  number,  "was 
at  length  too  small  to  contain  the  people,  where- 
upon we  determined  to  build  a  meeting-house  merely 
for  reading.  And  having  never  been  used  to  social 
prayer,  none  of  us  durst  attempt  it."  This  reading- 
house,  as  it  was  called,  was  followed  by  others  of 
like  character,  and  the  number  of  attendants  and  the 
power  of  divine  influence  were  much  increased.  Mr. 
Morris,  as  the  report  spread,  was  invited  to  several 
places  at  a  distance  to  read  these  sermons.  The 
phrase,  "Morris'  reading-house,"  has  come  down  by 
tradition  to  the  present  age,  as  well  as  important 
details  of  the  opposition  of  the  magistracy  and  other 
classes,  who  sought,  but  in  vain,  to  stop  the  progress 
of  the  work. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Hanover,  where,  in  after-days,  William  Robinson  and 
President  Davies  accomplished  such  mighty  triumphs, 
and  where  the  sacred  cause  still  flourishes. 

Whitefield  does  not  seem  to  have  been  made 
acquainted  with  these  facts  till  he  now  arrived  in  the 
colony,  and  saw  the  happy  effects  which  had  been  pro- 
duced by  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Robinson, 
Tennent,  Blair,  and  others.  Of  the  visit  of  White- 
field  among  them,  one  of  them  writes,  "  Mr.  Whitefield 
came  and  preached  four  or  five  days  in  these  parts, 
which  was  the  happy  means  of  giving  us  further  en- 


280  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

couragement,  and  engaging  others  to  the  Lord,  espec- 
ially among  the  church  people,  who  received  his  doc- 
trine more  readily  than  they  would  from  ministers  of 
the  Presbyterian  denomination."  We  may  add  here, 
that  in  1747  there  were  four  houses  of  worship  in  and 
around  Hanover,  which  had  sprung  from  the  "mustard- 
seed"  of  the  sermons  taken  in  shorthand  from  White- 
field's  lips  at  Glasgow. 

Among  the  converts  in  the  south  who  met  White- 
field,  was  Isaac  Oliver,  who  was  both  deaf  and  dumb, 
and  had  been  so  from  his  birth.  Notwithstanding 
these  great  disadvantages,  he  could  both  feel  and 
evince  his  strong  feelings  by  the  most  significant  and 
expressive  signs.  He  could,  for  instance,  so  represent 
the  crucifixion  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  to  be  un- 
derstood by  every  one ;  and  among  his  own  friends  he 
could  converse  about  the  love  of  Christ  in  the  lan- 
guage of  signs,  till  he  was  transported  in  rapture  and 
dissolved  in  tears.  He  was  much  beloved  for  his 
eminent  piety. 

Whitefield  had  not,  during  any  portion  of  this 
time,  forgotten  Bethesda.  The  public  had  warmly 
sustained  i*,  and  he  now  went  forward  to  see  to  its 
affairs,  and  to  add  to  the  orphan-house  a  Latin  school, 
intending,  indeed,  before  a  long  time  to  found  a  col- 
lege. 

The  following  account  of  the  orphan-house  in 
1746,  was  written  by  Mr.  Whitefield  in  the  form  of  a 
letter  to  a  friend,  and  published  as  a  small  pamphlet. 
We  transcribe  it  from  "  White's  Historical  Collections 
of  Georgia,"  published  in  1854: 


ORPHAN-HOUSE,  GEORGIA.  281 

"  Provide  things  honest  in  the  sight  of  all  men." — Rom.  112 :  17. 

"BETHESDA,  in  Georgia,  March  21,  1745-6. 
"  Some  have  thought  that  the  erecting  such  a 
building  was  only  the  produce  of  my  own  brain  ;  but 
they  are  much  mistaken ;  for  it  was  first  proposed  to 
me  by  my  dear  friend  the  Rev.  Mr.  Charles  Wesley, 
who,  with  his  excellency  General  Oglethorpe,  had  con- 
certed a  scheme  for  carrying  on  such  a  design  before 
I  had  any  thoughts  of  going  abroad  myself.  It  was 
natural  to  think  that,  as  the  government  intended  this 
province  for  the  refuge  and  support  of  many  of  our 
poor  countrymen,  numbers  of  such  adventurers  must 
necessarily  be  taken  off,  by  being  exposed  to  the  hard- 
ships which  unavoidably  attend  a  new  settlement.  I 
thought  it,  therefore,  a  noble  design  in  the  general  to 
erect  a  house  for  fatherless  children ;  and  believing 
that  such  a  provision  for  orphans  would  be  some 
inducement  with  many  to  come  over,  I  fell  in  with  the 
design,  when  mentioned  to  me  by  my  friend,  and  was 
resolved,  in  the  strength  of  God,  to  prosecute  it  with 
all  my  might.  This  was  mentioned  to  the  honorable 
the  trustees.  They  took  it  kindly  at  my  hands,  and 
wrote  to  the  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  for  leave  for 
me  to  preach  a  charity  sermon  on  this  occasion  in  the 
Abbey  church.  This  was  granted,  and  I  accordingly 
began  immediately  to  compose  a  suitable  discourse. 
But  knowing  that  my  first  stay  in  Georgia  would 
necessarily  be  short,  on  account  of  my  returning  again 
to  take  priest's  orders,  I  thought  it  most  prudent  first 
to  go  and  see  for  myself,  and  defer  prosecuting  the 
scheme  till  I  came  home.  .  .  .  When  I  came  to  Geor- 
gia, I  found  many  poor  orphans,  who,  though  taken 


282  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

notice  of  by  the  honorable  trustees,  yet,  through  the 
neglect  of  persons  under  them,  were  in  miserable  cir- 
cumstances. For  want  of  a  house  to  bring  them  up 
in,  the  poor  little  ones  were  tabled  out  here  and  there ; 
others  were  at  hard  services,  and  likely  to  have  no 
education  at  all. 

"  Upon  seeing  this,  and  finding  that  his  Majesty 
and  Parliament  had  the  interest  of  the  colony  much  at 
heart,  I  thought  I  could  not  better  show  my  regard  to 
God  and  my  country  than  by  getting  a  house  and  land 
for  these  children,  where  they  might  learn  to  labor, 
read,  and  write,  and  at  the  same  time  be  brought  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  Accord- 
ingly, at  my  return  to  England,  in  the  year  1738,  to 
take  priest's  orders,  I  applied  to  the  honorable  society 
for  a  grant  of  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  laid 
myself  under  an  obligation  to  build  a  house  upon  it, 
and  to  receive  from  time  to  time  as  many  orphans  as 
the  land  and  stock  would  maintain.  As  I  had  always 
acted  like  a  clergyman  of  the  church  of  England,  hav- 
ing preached  in  a  good  part  of  the  London  churches, 
and  but  a  few  months  before  collected  near  a  thousand 
pounds  sterling  for  the  children  belonging  to  the 
charity  schools  in  London  and  Westminster,  it  was 
natural  to  think  that  I  might  now  have  the  use  at 
least  of  some  of  these  churches  to  preach  in  for  the 
orphans  hereafter  more  immediately  to  be  committed 
to  my  care.  But  by  the  time  I  had  taken  priest's 
orders,  the  spirit  of  the  clergy  began  to  be  much  im- 
bittered.  Churches  were  gradually  denied  me,  and  I 
must  let  this  good  design  drop,  and  thousands,  and  I 
might  add  ten  thousands,  go  without  hearing  the  word 


ORPHAN-HOUSE,  GEORGIA.  283 

of  God,  or  preach  in  the  fields.  Indeed,  two  churches, 
one  in  London,  namely,  Spitalfields,  and  one  in  Bris- 
tol, namely,  St.  Philip's  and  Jacob,  were  lent  me  on 
this  occasion,  but  those  were  all.  I  collected  for  the 
orphan-house  in  Moorfields  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  one  Sabbath-day  morning,  twenty-two  pounds 
of  which  were  in  copper.  In  the  afternoon  I  collect- 
ed again  at  Kennington  Common,  and  continued  to  do 
so  at  most  of  the  places  where  I  preached.  Besides 
this,  two  or  three  of  the  bishops,  and  several  persons 
of  distinction  contributed,  until  at  length,  having  got- 
ten about  a  thousand  and  ten  pounds,  I  gave  over 
collecting,  and  went  with  what  I  had  to  Georgia.  At 
that  time  multitudes  offered  to  accompany  me ;  but  I 
chose  to  take  over  only  a  surgeon  and  a  few  more  of 
both  sexes,  that  I  thought  would  be  useful  in  carrying 
on  my  design.  My  dear  fellow-traveller  William 
Seward,  Esq.,  also  joined  with  them.  Our  first  voy- 
age was  to  Philadelphia,  where  I  was  willing  to  go 
for  the  sake  of  laying  in  provision.  I  laid  out  in 
London  a  good  part  of  the  thousand  pounds  for  goods, 
and  got  as  much  by  them  in  Philadelphia  as  nearly 
defrayed  the  families'  expenses  of  coming  over.  Here 
God  blessed  my  ministry  daily.  .  .  . 

"  January  following,  1739,  I  met  my  family  at 
Georgia,  and  being  unwilling  to  lose  any  time,  I  hired 
a  largo  house,  and  took  in  all  the  orphans  I  could  find 
in  the  colony.  A  great  many  also  of  the  town's  chil- 
dren came  to  school  gratis,  and  many  poor  people 
that  could  not  maintain  their  children,  upon  applica- 
tion, had  leave  given  them  to  send  their  little  ones 
for  a  month  or  two,  or  more  as  they  could  spare  them, 


284  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

till  at  length  my  family  consisted  of  between  sixty 
and  seventy.  Most  of  the  orphans  were  in  poor  case, 
and  three  or  four  almost  eaten  up  with  lice.  I  like- 
wise erected  an  infirmary,  in  which  many  sick  people 
were  cured  and  taken  care  of  gratis.  I  have  now  by 
me  a  list  of  upwards  of  a  hundred  and  thirty  pa- 
tients, which  were  under  the  surgeon's  hands,  exclu- 
sive of  my  own  private  family.  About  March  I  began 
the  great  house,  having  only  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  in  cash.  I  called  it  Bethesda,  because  I 
hoped  it  would  be  a  house  of  mercy  to  many  souls. 
Many  boys  have  been  put  out  to  trades,  and  many 
girls  put  out  to  service.  I  had  the  pleasure,  the  other 
day,  to  see  three  boys  work  at  the  house  in  which 
they  were  bred,  one  of  them  out  of  his  time,  a  journey- 
man, and  the  others  serving  under  their  masters. 
One  that  I  brought  from  New  England  is  hand- 
somely settled  in  Carolina ;  and  another  from  Phila- 
delphia is  married,  and  lives  very  comfortably  in 
Savannah.  We  have  lately  begun  to  use  the  plough, 
and  next  year  I  hope  to  have  many  acres  of  good 
oats  and  barley.  We  have  nearly  twenty  sheep  and 
lambs,  fifty  head  of  cattle,  and  seven  horses.  We 
hope  to  kill  a  thousand  weight  of  pork  this  season. 
Our  garden  is  very  beautiful,  furnishes  us  with  all 
sorts  of  greens,  etc.,  etc.  We  have  plenty  of  milk, 
eggs,  poultry,  and  make  a  good  deal  of  butter  weekly. 
A  good  quantity  of  wool  and  cotton  have  been  given 
me,  and  we  hope  to  have  sufficient  spun  and  wove  for 
the  next  winter's  clothing.  The  family  now  consists 
of  twenty-six  persons.  Two  of  the  orphan  boys  are 
blind,  one  is  little  better  than  an  idiot.  I  have  two 


IN  GEORGIA.  285 

women  to  take  care  of  the  household  work,  and  two 
men  and  three  boys  employed  about  the  plantation 
and  cattle.  A  set  of  Dutch  servants  has  been 
lately  sent  over.  The  magistrates  were  pleased  to 
give  me  two  ;  and  I  took  in  a  poor  widow,  aged  near 
seventy,  whom  nobody  else  cared  to  have.  A  valu- 
able young  man  from  New  England  is  my  school- 
master, and  in  my  absence  performs  duty  in  the  family. 
On  Sabbaths,  the  grown  people  attend  on  public  wor- 
ship at  Savannah,  or  at  White  Bluff,  a  village  near 
Bethesda,  where  a  Dutch  minister  officiates.  The 
house  is  a  noble,  commodious  building,  and  every 
thing  sweetly  adapted  for  bringing  up  youth.  Geor- 
gia is  very  healthy ;  not  above  one,  and  that  a  little 
child,  has  died  out  of  our  family  since  it  removed  to 
Bethesda." 

A  tabular  statement  follows  this  account,  giving 
full  particulars  of  the  eighty-six  children  who  to  that 
period  had  been  admitted  into  the  establishment. 

Old  newspapers,  as  daguerreotyping  the  facts,  and 
even  the  feelings  of  any  particular  period,  are  some- 
times invaluable.  In  New  York,  as  everywhere 
else,  Whitefield  had  his  enemies,  and  many  charges 
were  brought  against  him.  But  that  there  were  those 
who  took  a  strongly  favorable  view  of  his  character 
and  conduct,  is  very  clear  from  an  extract  we  give 
from  "  The  New  York  Post-Boy,"  of  April,  1746 : 
"  Mr.  Whitefield's  excellent  parts,  fine  elocution,  and 
masterly  address  •  his  admirable  talent  of  opening  the 
Scriptures,  and  enforcing  the  most  weighty  subjects 
upon  the  conscience  ;  his  polite  and  serious  behavior, 
his  unaffected  and  superior  piety,  his  prudence,  humil- 


286  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ity,  and  catholic  spirit,  are  things  which  must  silence 
and  disarm  prejudice  itself.  By  these  qualifications 
of  the  orator,  the  divine,  and  the  Christian,  he  has 
not  only  fixed  himself  deeper  in  the  affections  of  his 
former  friends,  but  greatly  increased  the  number 
wherever  he  has  preached  ;  and  made  his  way  into 
the  hearts  of  several  who,  till  this  visit,  had  said  all 
the  severe  things  against  him  that  enmity  itself  seemed 
capable  of." 

From  this  period,  this  paper  especially  noticed 
the  various  movements  of  this  apostolic  man ;  his  ar- 
rivals in  the  city,  his  engagements  in  it,  his  depart- 
ures from  it,  and  the  places  of  his  destination,  were 
all  given  with  the  minutise  with  which  even  the  move- 
ments of  monarchs  are  recorded. 

It  was  not  without  its  use  that  the  organs  of  the 
public  thus  expressed  their  high  sense  of  his  charac- 
ter. In  1745,  suspicions  were  whispered  abroad  as 
to  the  entire  integrity  of  this  excellent  man  in  the 
appropriation  of  the  funds  collected  for  Bethesda. 
But  happily  for  all  parties,  the  magistrates  of  Savan- 
nah published  in  the  Philadelphia  Gazette  an  affidavit, 
that  they  had  carefully  examined  Mr.  Whitefield's 
receipts  and  disbursements,  and  found  that  what  he 
had  collected  in  behalf  of  the  orphans,  had  been  hon- 
estly applied,  and  that  besides,  he  had  given  consid- 
erably to  them  of  his  own  property. 

Having  done  what  he  could  at  Bethesda,  feeling 
his  health  failing  him,  needing  resources  for  his  or- 
phans, and  urged  on  by  his  love  of  preaching,  White- 
field  was  soon  again  in  the  field,  far  away  from  his 
home.  In  the  autumn  of  1746,  we  find  many  passages 


IN  MARYLAND.  287 

in  his  journals  and  letters  like  these,  while  in  Mary- 
land :  "I  trust  the  time  for  favoring  this  and  the  neigh- 
boring southern  provinces  is  come.  Everywhere, 
almost,  the  door  is  opened  for  preaching,  great  num- 
bers flock  to  hear,  and  the  power  of  an  ascended 
Saviour  attends  the  word.  For  it  is  surprising  how 
the  Lord  causes  prejudices  to  subside,  and  makes  my 
former  most  bitter  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  me. .  .  . 
Lately  I  have  been  in  seven  counties  in  Maryland, 
and  preached  with  abundant  success."  At  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  he  writes,  January  1747,  "  The 
Lord  Jesus  is  pleased  to  give  me  great  access  to  mul- 
titudes of  souls."  A  few  weeks  later,  he  writes  from 
the  same  place,  that  Bethesda  was  never  in  a  better 
condition;  that  he  had  opened  a  Latin  school  there 
during  the  winter,  and  that  he  hoped  yet  to  see  minis- 
ters furnished  from  Georgia. 

In  April,  we  again  find  him  in  Maryland,  as  he 
writes  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  that  month  from  Bohemia, 
in  that  province,  and  speaks  of  the  success  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel, afterwards  President  Davies,  in  Virginia,  but 
adds  that  a  proclamation  had  been  issued  in  that  state 
against  itinerants,  so  that  he  himself  was  shut  out  of 
it.  In  the  middle  of  May  he  exults,  "  Maryland  is 
yielding  converts  to  the  blessed  Jesus.  The  gospel 
seems  to  be  moving  southward.  The  harvest  is  prom- 
ising. The  time  of  the  singing  birds  is  come ;"  and 
five  days  afterwards  he  says, "  1  have  been  now  a  three 
hundred  miles'  circuit  in  Maryland,  and  through  one 
or  two  counties  in  Pennsylvania.  Everywhere  the 
people  have  a  hearing  ear,  and  I  trust  some  have  an 
obedient  heart." 


288  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

On  the  first  of  June  we  find  him  in  Philadelphia, 
from  whence  he  writes,  "  At  present  I  have  full  work 
here.  The  congregations  yesterday  were  large,  and 
for  this  month  past  I  have  been  preaching  to  thousands 
in  different  places."  During  the  whole  of  this  month 
his  health  was  in  a  very  critical  state.  Here  we  have 
a  few  sentences  from  his  pen,  as  given  on  different 
days :  "  I  am  sick  and  well,  as  I  used  to  be  in  Eng- 
land ;  but  the  Redeemer  fills  me  with  comfort.  I  am 

determined,  in  his  strength,  to  die  fighting I 

have  almost  a  continual  burning  fever.  With  great 
regret  I  have  omitted  preaching  one  night  to  oblige 
my  friends,  and  purpose  to  do  so  once  more,  that  they 
may  not  charge  me  with  murdering  myself.  But  I 
hope  yet  to  die  in  the  pulpit,  or  soon  after  I  come  out 

of  it Since  my  last,  I  have  been  several  times 

on  the  verge  of  eternity.  At  present  I  am  so  weak 
that  I  cannot  preach.  It  is  hard  work  to  be  silent, 
but  I  must  be  tried  every  way." 

Sickness  did  not  interrupt  Whitefield's  labors,  if 
he  could  move  or  preach  at  all.  "  I  am  determined," 
he  says  to  Gilbert  Tennent,  "  to  die  fighting,  though 
it  be  on  my  stumps."  He  was  soon  after  at  New  York, 
Newport,  Portsmouth,  and  Boston.  At  New  York 
he  writes,  "I  am  "as  willing  to  hunt  for  souls  as  ever. 
I  am  not  weary  of  my  work."  On  the  next  day  he 
writes,  "I  have  preached  to  a  very  large  auditory, 
and  do  not  find  myself  much  worse  for  it."  He  did 
so  again  with  success.  He  then  says,  "  I  shall  go  to 
Boston  like  an  arrow  out  of  a  bow,  if  Jesus  strength- 
en me.  I  am  resolved  to  preach  and  work  for  Him 
until  I  can  preach  and  work  no  more.  I  have  been 


IN  NORTH  CAROLINA.  289 

upon  the  water  three  or  four  days,  and  now  eat  like 
a  sailor."  He  went  on  to  Boston,  where  he  heard  of 
the  sudden  but  joyful  death  of  his  venerable  and  ex- 
cellent friend  Dr.  Colman.  He  adds,  "  My  reception 
at  Boston  and  elsewhere  was  like  unto  the  first.  Ar- 
rows of  conviction  fled  and  stuck  fast.  Congrega- 
tions were  larger  than  ever,  and  opposers'  mouths 
were  stopped." 

After  again  making  short  visits  to  Philadelphia 
and  Bohemia,  Whitefield,  according  to  previous  ar- 
rangements, went  to  spend  the  winter  in  North  Caro- 
lina. Before  he  left  Bohemia,  however,  he  wrote  to 
his  friends  at  New  York,  who  were  intensely  anxious 
about  his  health,  but  he  could  only  say  it  was  yet 
fluctuating.  Even  so  was  it  when  he  arrived  in  North 
Carolina,  yet  he  writes,  "  I  am  here,  hunting  in  the 
woods,  these  ungospelized  wilds,  for  sinners.  It  is 
pleasant  work,  though  my  body  is  weak  and  crazy. 
But  after  a  short  fermentation  in  the  grave,  it  will  be 
fashioned  like  unto  Christ's  glorious  body.  The 
thought  of  this  rejoices  my  soul,  and  makes  me  long 
to  leap  my  seventy  years.  I  sometimes  think  all  will 
go  to  heaven  before  me.  Pray  for  me  as  a  dying 
man  ;  but  Oh,  pray  that  I  may  not  go  off  as  a  snuff. 
I  would  fain  die  blazing — not  with  human  glory,  but 
with  the  love  of  Jesus." 

Such  was  his  weakness,  that  his  journey  to  Bath- 
town,  in  North  Carolina,  was  long  and  slow.  Even 
a  short  ride  was  fatiguing  and  painful.  Still,  he  preach- 
ed with  considerable  power ;  cheered  on  from  stage 
to  stage  by  the  hope  that  the  conversion  of  "  North 
Carolina  sinners  would  be  glad  news  in  heaven."  His 

Whitefield.  13 


290  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

letters  indicated  lively  hopes  of  an  extensive  revival, 
but  his  expectations  were  not  fully  realized.  His 
health  was  still  exceedingly  feeble,  and  his  physicians 
ordered  him  to  try  a  change  of  climate.  He  accord- 
ingly embarked  for  the  Bermudas,  where  he  landed, 
March  15,  1748. 

The  Bermudas  are  a  group  of  four  small  islands 
lying  about  nine  hundred  miles  east  of  Georgia.  The 
largest  of  the  islands  is  called  St.  George's,  with  a 
capital  of  the  same  name ;  the  climate  is  remarkably 
fine,  and  well  adapted  for  the  temporary  residence 
and  recovery  of  invalids.  Here  Whitefield  met  with 
an  exceedingly  kind  reception,  and  remained  on  the 
island  with  great  benefit  to  his  health,  more  than  a 
month.  We  scarcely  need  to  say  that  he  was  not  idle 
during  his  residence  here,  but  traversed  the  island 
from  one  end  to  the  other,  generally  preaching  twice 
a  day.  A  few  passages  from  his  journal  will  best 
show  the  facts. 

"The  simplicity  and  plainness  of  the  people,  togeth- 
er with  the  pleasant  situation  of  the  island,  much  de- 
lighted me.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Holiday,  minister  of  Span- 
ish Point,  received  me  in  a  most  affectionate,  Chris- 
tian manner  ;  and  begged  I  would  make  his  house  my 
home.  In  the  evening,  I  expounded  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Savage,  at  Port  Royal,  which  was  very  commo- 
dious ;  and  which  also  he  would  have  me  make  my 
home.  I  went  with  Mr.  Savage  in  a  boat  to  the  town 
of  St.  George,  in  order  to  pay  our  respects  to  the 
governor.  All  along  we  had  a  most  pleasant  prospect 
of  the  other  part  of  the  island  ;  a  more  pleasant  one  I 
never  saw.  Mrs.  Smith,  of  St.  George,  for  whom  I 


AT  THE  BERMUDAS.  291 

had  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  my  dear  old 
friend  Mr.  Smith,  of  Charlestown,  received  me  into 
her  house.  About  noon,  with  one  of  the  council  and 
Mr.  Savage,  I  waited  upon  the  governor.  He  received 
us  courteously,  and  invited  us  to  dine  with  him  and 
the  council.  We  accepted  the  invitation,  and  all  be- 
haved with  great  civility  and  respect.  After  the  gov- 
ernor rose  from  the  table,  he  desired,  if  I  stayed  in 
town  on  the  Sunday,  that  I  would  dine  with  him  at 
his  own  house. 

"  Sunday,  March  20.  Read  prayers  and  preached 
twice  this  day,  to  what  were  esteemed  here  large 
auditories — in  the  morning  at  Spanish  Point  church, 
and  in  the  evening  at  Brackish  Pond  church,  about 
two  miles  distant  from  each  other.  In  the  afternoon 
I  spoke  with  greater  freedom  than  in  the  morning, 
and  I  trust  not  altogether  in  vain.  All  were  atten- 
tive, some  wept.  I  dined  with  Colonel  Butterfield, 
one  of  the  council ;  and  received  several  invitations 
to  other  gentlemen's  houses.  May  God  bless  and 
reward  them,  and  incline  them  to  open  their  hearts  to 
receive  the  Lord  Jesus. 

"Wednesday,  March  23.  Dined  with  Captain 
Gibbs,  and  went  from  thence  and  expounded  at  the 

house  of  Captain  F le,  at  Hunbay,  about  two  miles 

distant.  The  company  here  also  was  large,  attentive, 
and  affected.  Our  Lord  gave  me  utterance.  I  ex- 
pounded the  first  part  of  the  eighth  chapter  of  Jeremiah. 
After  lecture,  Mr.  Riddle,  a  counsellor,  invited  me  to 
his  house  ;  as  did  Mr.  Paul,  an  aged  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, to  his  pulpit ;  which  I  complied  with  upon  con- 
dition that  the  rumor  was  true,  that  the  governor  had 


292  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

served  the  ministers  with  an  injunction  that  I  should 
not  preach  in  the  churches. 

"  Sunday,  March  27.  Glory  be  to  God !  I  hope 
this  has  been  a  profitable  Sabbath  to  many  souls ;  it 
has  been  a  pleasant  one  to  mine.  Both  morning  and 
afternoon  I  preached  to  a  large  auditory,  for  the  Ber- 
mudas, in  Mr.  Paul's  meeting-house,  which  I  suppose 
contains  about  four  hundred.  Abundance  of  negroes, 
and  many  others,  were  in  the  porch,  and  about  the 
house.  The  word  seemed  to  be  clothed  with  a  con- 
vincing power,  and  to  make  its  way  into  the  hearts 
of  the  hearers.  Between  sermons,  I  was  entertained 
very  civilly  in  a  neighboring  house.  Judge  Bascom, 
and  three  more  of  the  council,  came  thither,  and  each 
gave  me  an  Invitation  to  his  house.  How  does  the 
Lord  make  way  for  a  poor  stranger  in  a  strange  land. 
After  the  second  sermon  I  dined  with  Mr.  Paul ;  and 
in  the  evening  expounded  to  a  very  large  company  at 
Councillor  Riddle's.  My  body  was  somewhat  weak  ; 
but  the  Lord  carried  me  through,  and  caused  me  to  go 
to  rest  rejoicing.  May  I  thus  go  to  my  grave,  when 
my  ceaseless  and  uninterrupted  rest  shall  begin. 

"  Thursday,  March  31.  Dined  on  Tuesday  at  Colo- 
nel Corbusier's,  and  on  Wednesday  at  Colonel  Gil- 
bert's, both  of  the  council ;  and  found,  by  what  I 
could  hear,  that  some  good  had' been  done,  and  many 
prejudices  removed.  Who  shall  hinder,  if  God  will 
work?  Went  to  an  island  this  afternoon  called 
Ireland,  upon  which  live  a  few  families;  and  to  my 
surprise,  found  a  great  many  gentlemen,  and  other 
people,  with  my  friend  Mr.  Holiday,  who  came  from 
different  quarters  to  hear  me.  Before  I  began  preach- 


AT  THE  BERMUDAS.  293 

ing,  I  went  round  to  see  a  most  remarkable  cave,  which 
very  much  displayed  the  exquisite  workmanship  of 
Him,  who  in  'his  strength  setteth  fast  the  mountains, 
and  is  girded  about  with  power.7  While  I  was  in  the 
cave,  quite  unexpectedly  I  turned  and  saw  Councillor 
Riddle,  who,  with  his  son,  came  to  hear  me;  and 
while  we  were  in  the  boat,  told  me  that  he  had  been 
with  the  governor,  who  declared  he  had  no  personal 
prejudice  against  me,  and  wondered  I  did  not  come  to 
town  and  preach  there,  for  it  was  the  desire  of  the 
people ;  and  that  any  house  in  the  town,  the  court- 
house not  excepted,  should  be  at  my  service.  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  so  much  favor.  If  his  cause  requires 
it,  I  shall  have  more.  He  knows  my  heart ;  I  value 
the  favor  of  man  no  farther  than  as  it  makes  room  for 
the  gospel,  and  gives  me  a  larger  scope  to  promote 
the  glory  of  God.  There  being  no  capacious  house 
upon  the  island,  I  preached  for  the  first  time  here  in 
the  open  air.  All  heard  very  attentively  ;  and  it  was 
very  pleasant,  after  sermon,  to  see  so  many  boats  full 
of  people  returning  from  the  worship  of  God.  I  talked 
seriously  to  some  in  our  own  boat,  and  sung  a  psalm, 
in  which  they  readily  joined. 

"Sunday,  April  3.  Preached  twice  this  day  at 
Mr.  Paul's  meeting-house,  as  on  the  last  Sabbath,  but 
with  greater  freedom  and  power,  especially  in  the 
morning ;  and  I  think  to  as  great,  if  not  greater  audi- 
atories.  Dined  with-  Colonel  Harvy,  another  of  the 
council ;  visited  a  sick  woman,  where  many  came  to 
hear  ;  and  expounded  afterwards  to  a  great  company, 
at  Captain  John  DorreFs,  Mrs.  DorreFs  son,  who  with 
his  wife  courteously  entertained  me,  and  desired  me 


294  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

to  make  his  house  my  home.  So  true  is  that  promise 
of  our  Lord,  that '  whosoever  leaves  father  or  mother, 
houses  or  lands,  shall  have  in  this  life  a  hundred-fold 
with  persecution,  and  in  the  world  to  come,  life  ever- 
lasting.' Lord,  I  have  experienced  the  one ;  in  thy 
good  time  grant  that  I  may  experience  the  other  also. 
"  Wednesday,  April  6.  Preached  yesterday  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Anthony  Smith,  of  Baylis  Bay,  with  a 
considerable  degree  of  warmth  ;  and  rode  afterwards 
to  St.  George,  the  only  town  on  the  island.  The 
gentlemen  of  the  town  had  sent  me  an  invitation  by 
Judge  Bascom ;  and  he,  with  several  others,  came  to 
visit  me  at  my  lodgings ;  and  informed  me  that  the 
governor  desired  to  see  me.  About  ten  I  waited  upon 
his  excellency,  who  received  me  with  great  civility, 
and  told  me  he  had  no  objection  against  my  person  or 
my  principles,  having  never  yet  heard  me ;  and  he 
knew  nothing  with  respect  to  my  conduct  in  moral 
life,  that  might  prejudice  him  against  me ;  but  his 
intentions  were  to  let  none  preach  in  the  island,  un- 
less he  had  a  written  license  to  preach  somewhere  in 
America,  or  the  West  Indies ;  at  the  same  time  he 
acknowledged  that  it  was  but  a  matter  of  mere  form. 
I  informed  his  excellency  that  I  had  been  regularly 
inducted  into  the  parish  of  Savannah  ;  that  I  was  or- 
dained priest  by  letters  dismissory  from  my  lord  of 
London,  and  was  under  no  church  censure  from  his 
lordship  ;  and  would  always  read  the  church  prayers, 
if  the  clergy  would  give  me  the  use  of  their  churches. 
I  added  farther,  that  a  minister's  pulpit  was  always 
looked  upon  as  his  freehold  ;  and  that  I  knew  one 
clergyman  who  had  denied  his  own  diocesan  the  use 


AT  THE  BERMUDAS.  295 

of  his  pulpit.  But  I  told  his  excellency  I  was  satis- 
fied with  the  liberty  he  allowed  me,  and  would  not 
act  contrary  to  his  injunction.  I  then  begged  leave 
to  be  dismissed,  as  I  was  obliged  to  preach  at  eleven 
o'clock.  His  excellency  said  he  intended  to  do  him- 
self the  pleasure  to  hear  me.  At  eleven,  the  church  bell 
rung.  The  church  Bible,  prayer-book,  and  cushion, 
were  sent  to  the  town-house.  The  governor,  several 
of  the  council,  the  minister  of  the  parish,  and  assem- 
bly-men, with  a  great  number  of  the  town's  people, 
assembled  in  great  order.  I  was  very  sick,  through 
a  cold  I  caught  last  night ;  but  read  the  church  pray- 
ers. The  first  lesson  was  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  the 
first  book  of  Samuel.  I  preached  on  those  words, 
'  Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation.'  Being  weak  and 
faint,  and  afflicted  much  with  the  headache,  I  did  not 
do  that  justice  to  my  subject  which  I  sometimes  am 
enabled  to  do  ;  but  the  Lord  so  helped  me  that,  as  I 
found  afterwards,  the  governor  and  the  other  gentle- 
men expressed  their  approbation,  and  acknowledged 
they  did  not  expect  to  be  so  well  entertained.  Not 
unto  me,  Lord,  not  unto  me,  but  to  thy  free  grace 
be  all  the  glory ! 

"  After  sermon,  Dr.  F bs,  and  Mr.  P 1,  the 

collector,  came  to  me,  and  desired  me  to  favor  them 
and  the  gentlemen  of  the  town  with  my  company  at 
dinner.  I  accepted  the  invitation.  The  governor, 
and  the  president,  and  Judge  Bascom  were  there. 
All  wondered  at  my  speaking  so  freely  and  fluently 
without  notes.  The  governor  asked  whether  I  used 
minutes.  I  answered,  '  No.'  He  said  it  was  a  great 
gift.  At  table,  his  excellency  introduced  something 


296  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

of  religion  by  asking  me  the  moaning  of  the  word 
HADES.  Several  other  things  were  started  about  free- 
will, Adam's  fall,  predestination,  etc.,  to  all  which  God 
enabled  me  to  answer  so  pertinently,  and  taught  me 
to  mix  the  utile  and  duke  [useful  and  pleasant]  so  to- 
gether, that  fill  at  table  seemed  highly  pleased,  shook 
me  by  the  hand,  and  invited  me  to  their  respective 
houses.  The  governor,  in  particular,  asked  me  to 

dine  with  him  on  the  morrow ;  and  Dr.  F ,  one 

of  his  particular  intimates,  invited  me  to  drink  tea  in 
the  afternoon.  I  thanked  all,  returned  proper  re- 
spects, and  went  to  my  lodgings  with  some  degree  of 
thankfulness  for  the  assistance  vouchsafed  me,  and 
abased  before  God  at  the  consideration  of  my  un- 
speakable unworthiness.  In  the  afternoon,  about  five 
o'clock,  I  expounded  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son 
to  many  people  at  a  private  house;  and  in  the  even- 
ing had  liberty  to  speak  freely  and  closely  to  those 
who  supped  with  me.  0  that  this  may  be  the  begin- 
ning of  good  gospel  times  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town." 

We  might  fill  other  pages  from  Whitefield's  jour- 
nal, but  will  only  give  two  more  passages.  Th.e  first 
will  show  him  in  connection  with  the  African  race,  in 
whose  highest  welfare  he  always  took  a  special 
interest. 

"  Saturday,  May  7.  In  my  conversation  these  two 
days  with  some  of  my  friends,  I  was  diverted  much 
in  hearing  several  things  that  passed  among  the  poor 
negroes,  since  I  preached  to  them  last  Sunday.  One 
of  the  women,  it  seems,  said  that '  if  the  book  I  preach- 
ed out  of  was  the  best  book  that  was  ever  bought  at 


AT  THE  BERMUDAS.  291 

London,  she  was  sure  it  had  never  all  that  in  it  which 
I  spoke  to  the  negroes.'  The  old  man  who  spoke  out 
loud  last  Sunday,  and  said  '  yes '  when  I  asked  them 
whether  all  the  negroes  would  not  go  to  heaven,  being 
questioned  by  somebody  why  he  spoke  out  so,  answer- 
ed, that  'the  gentleman  put  the  question  once  or  twice 
to  them,  and  the  other  fools  had  not  the  manners  to 
make  any  answer;  till  at  last  I  seemed  to  point  at 
him,  and  he  was  ashamed  that  nobody  should  answer 
me,  and  therefore  he  did.'  Another,  wondering  why 
I  said  negroes  had  black  hearts,  was  answered  by  his 
black  brother,  'Ah,  thou  fool,  dost  not  thou  under- 
stand it?  He  means  black  with  sin.'  Two  girls 
were  overheard  by  their  mistress  talking  about  relig- 
ion, and  they  said  '  they  knew,  if  they  did  not  repent, 
they  must  be  damned.'  From  all  which  I  infer  that 
these  negroes  on  the  Bermudas  are  more  awake  than 
I  supposed;  that  their  consciences  are  awake,  and 
consequently  prepared  in  a  good  measure  for  hearing 
the  gospel  preached  to  them." 

Whitefield  sums  up  the  events  which  had  occurred 
in  connection  with  himself  on  the  Bermudas,  the 
praise  of  which  islands  has  also  been  celebrated  by 
the  distinguished  Bishop  Berkeley,  who  resided  there 
for  some  time,  and  by  Waller  the  poet. 

"Sunday,  May  22.  Blessed  be  God,  the  little 
leaven  thrown  into  the  three  measures  of  meal  begins 
to  ferment  and  work  almost  every  day  for  the  week 
past.  I  have  conversed  with  souls  loaded  with  a 
sense  of  their  sins,  and  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  really 
pricked  to  the  heart.  I  preached  only  three  times, 
but  to  almost  three  times  larger  auditories  than  usual. 
13* 


298  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Indeed,  the  fields  are  white,  ready  to  harvest.  God 
has  been  pleased  to  bless  private  visits.  Go  where  1 
will,  upon  the  least  notice,  houses  are  crowded,  and 
the  poor  souls  that  follow  are  soon  drenched  in  tears. 
This  day  I  took,  as  it  were,  another  farewell.  As  the 
ship  did  not  sail,  I  preached  at  Somerset  in  the  morn- 
ing to  a  large  congregation  in  the  fields  ;  and  expound- 
ed in  the  evening  at  Mr.  Harvy's  house,  around 
which  stood  many  hundreds  of  people.  But  in  the 
morning  and  evening  how  did  the  poor  souls  weep. 
Abundance  of  prayers  and  blessings  were  put  up  for 
my  safe  passage  to  England,  and  speedy  return  to  the 
Bermudas  again.  May  they  enter  into  the  ears  of  the 
Lord  of  sabaoth.  With  all  humility  and  thankful- 
ness of  heart  will  I  here,  0  Lord,  set  up  my  Ebenezer, 
for  hitherto  surely  hast  thou  helped  me.  Thanks  be 
to  the  Lord  for  sending  me  hither.  I  have  been  re- 
ceived in  a  manner  I  dared  not  to  expect,  and  have 
met  with  little,  very  little  opposition  indeed.  The 
inhabitants  seem  to  be  plain  and  open-hearted.  They 
have  loaded  me  with  provisions  for  my  sea-store  ;  and 
in  the  several  parishes,  by  a  private  voluntary  contri- 
bution, have  raised  me  upwards  of  one  hundred  pounds 
sterling.  This  will  pay  a  little  of  Bethesda's  debt, 
and  enable  me  to  make  such  a  remittance  to  my  dear 
yoke-fellow,  as  may  keep  her  from  being  embarrassed, 
or  too  much  beholden  in  my  absence.  Blessed  be 
God  for  bringing  me  out  of  my  embarrassments  by 
degrees.  May  the  Lord  reward  all  my  benefactors  a 
thousand-fold.  I  hear  that  what  was  given,  was  giv- 
en heartily,  and  people  only  lamented  that  they  could 
do  no  more." 


AT  THE  BERMUDAS.  299 

Whitefield  now  transmitted  to  Georgia  what  had 
been  collected  for  the  orphan-house;  but  fearing  a 
relapse,  if  he  returned  to  the  south  during  the  hot 
season,  which  was  near  commencing,  and  pressed  also 
again  to  visit  England,  he  took  his  passage  in  a  brig, 
and  in  twenty-eight  days  arrived  at  Deal. 

On  his  voyage,  he  completed  an  abridgment, 
which  he  had  previously  begun,  of  "Law's  serious  Call 
to  a  devout  and  holy  Life"  which  he  endeavored  to 
make  more  useful  by  excluding  whatever  is  not  truly 
evangelical,  and  illustrating  the  subject  more  fully, 
especially  from  the  holy  Scriptures.  He  also  wrote 
letters  to  his  friends,  one  of  which  strikingly  illus- 
trates his  Christian  humility.  It  bears  date  June  24, 
1748.  "Yesterday  I  made  an  end  of  revising  all  my 
journals.  Alas,  alas,  in  how  many  things  I  have 
judged  and  acted  wrong.  I  have  been  too  rash  and 
hasty  in  giving  characters  both  of  places  and  persons. 
Being  fond  of  Scripture  language,  I  have  used  a  style 
too  apostolical,  and  at  the  same  time  I  have  been  too 
bitter  in  my  zeal.  Wildfire  has  been  mixed  with  it, 
and  I  find  that  I  frequently  wrote  and  spoke  in  my 
own  spirit,  when  I  thought  I  was  writing  and  speak- 
ing by  the  assistance  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  I  have, 
likewise,  too  much  made  inward  impressions  my  rule 
of  acting,  and  too  soon  and  too  explicitly  published 
what  had  been  better  kept  in  longer,  or  told  after  my 
death.  By  these  things  I  have  hurt  the  blessed  cause 
I  would  defend,  and  also  stirred  up  a  needless  oppo- 
sition. This  has  humbled  me  much,  and  made  me 
think  of  a  saying  of  Mr.  Henry,  'Joseph  had  more 
honesty  than  he  had  policy,  or  he  never  would  have 


300  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

told  his  dreams.'  At  the  same  time,  I  cannot  but 
praise  God,  who  fills  me  with  so  much  of  his  holy  fire, 
and  carried  me,  a  poor  weak  youth,  through  such  a 
torrent,  both  of  popularity  and  contempt,  and  set  so 
many  seals  to  my  unworthy  ministrations.  I  bless 
him  for  ripening  my  judgment  a  little  more,  for  giving 
me  to  see  and  confess,  and  I  hope  in  some  degree  to 
correct  and  amend  some  of  my  former  mistakes." 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  1748,  the  "  Gentle- 
man's Magazine"  had  announced  Whitefield's  death 
as  having  taken  place  in  America.  One  of  his  first 
letters  on  his  arrival  at  Deal  in  that  year,  says, 
"  Words  cannot  express  how  joyful  my  friends  were 
to  see  me  once  more  in  the  land  of  the  living,  for  I 
find  the  newspapers  had  buried  me  ever  since  April 
last.  But  it  seems  I  am  not  to  die,  but  live.  0  that 
it  may  be  to  declare  the  works  of  the  Lord."  " 


IN  ENGLAND.  301 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LABORS  IN  ENGLAND  AND  SCOTLAND— CHAPLAIN 

TO  LADY  HUNTINGDON. 

1748, 1749. 

ON  the  evening  of  July  6,  1748,  Whitefield  again 
found -himself  in  London,  after  an  absence  of  nearly 
four  years.  Here  he  was  welcomed  with  joy  by  many 
thousands.  The  large  church  of  St.  Bartholomew  was 
at  once  thrown  open  to  him,  where  multitudes  flocked 
to  hear,  and  where  on  the  first  Sabbath  he  had  a 
thousand  communicants.  But  in  his  own  more  imme- 
diate circle  many  things  were  in  an  unhappy  condi- 
tion. His  congregation  at  the  Tabernacle  had  been 
much  scattered  during  his  absence ;  Antinomianism 
had  made  sad  havoc  among  the  people ;  and  one  of 
this  party  threatened  to  rival  him  in  Moorfields. 
Whitefield  sent  him  word,  "  The  fields  are  no  doubt 
as  free  to  you  as  to  another.  God  send  you  a  clear 
head  and  a  clean  heart.  I  intend  preaching  there  on 
Sunday  evening."  He  did  so  ;  and  found  "  Moor- 
fields  as  white  to  harvest  as  ever."  Our  evangelist 
was  again  called  to  mourn  the  evils  of  poverty.  He 
found  himself  compelled  to  sell  his  household  furni- 
ture, to  pay,  in  part;,  the  debts  of  his  orphan-house, 
which  were  yet  far  from  being  cancelled ;  his  aged 
mother,  for  whom  he  always  retained  the  highest 
regard,  also  needed  his  aid.  These  and  other  trials 
pressed  him  sorely  ;  but  on  the  other  hand,  he  felt 
happy  in  his  work,  and  his  congregation  were  soon 
reunited,  and  happy  in  his  labors. 


302  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

We  have  seen  that  as  early  as  1738,  Lady  Hunt- 
ingdon, with  his  lordship  her  husband,  as  frequently 
as  they  could,  heard  Whitefield  preach;  since  that 
period  his  lordship  had  died,  leaving  her  ladyship  a 
widow,  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of  her  age.  At  what 
period  she  became  more  openly  and  intimately  White- 
field's  friend  does  not  appear  ;  but  when  he  landed  at 
Deal  from  his  third  visit  to  America,  she  sent  Howel 
Harris  to  bring  him  to  her  house  at  Chelsea,  where 
he  preached  to  large  circles  of  the  gay  world,  who 
thronged  this  then  fashionable  watering-place.  For 
the  benefit  of  this  class  of  hearers,  she  soon  after 
removed  to  London,  at  that  time  some  three  miles 
distant  from  Chelsea,  appointed  Whitefield  her  chap- 
lain, and  during  the  winter  of  1748  and  '49,  opened 
her  splendid  mansion  in  Park-street  for  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel.  "  Good  Lady  Huntingdon,"  he  writes, 
"  has  come  to  town,  and  I  am  to  preach  twice  a  week 
at  her  house  to  the  great  and  noble.  0  that  some  of 
them  might  be  effectually  called  to  taste  the  riches  of 
redeeming  love."  On  the  first  day  appointed,  Ches- 
terfield and  Bolingbroke,  both  of  them  well-known 
for  their  gayety  and  infidelity,  and  a  circle  of  the 
nobility,  attended ;  and  having  heard  him  once,  they 
desired  to  come  again.  "Lord  Chesterfield  thanked 
me,"  he  says.  "  Lord  Bolingbroke  was  moved,  and 
asked  me  to  come  and  see  him  the  next  morning.  My 
hands  have  been  full  of  work,  and  I  have  been  among 
great  company.  All  accepted  my  sermons.  Thus  the 
world  turns  round.  '  In  all  time  of  my  wealth,  good 
Lord,  deliver  me.' " 

The  death-bed  of  Lord  St.   John  Bolingbroke, 


IN  ENGLAND.  303 

whom  we  have  already  mentioned  as  one  of  his  parlor- 
hearers,  exhibited  scenes  unusual  in  the  circle  where 
he  moved.  The  Bible  was  read  to  him,  and  his  cry 
was,  "  God  be. merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  "My  Lord 
Bolingbroke,"  wrote  Lady  Huntingdon  to  Whitefield, 
"  was  much  struck  with  his  brother's  language  in  his 
last  moments.  0  that  his  eyes  might  be  opened  by 
the  illuminating  influence  of  divine  truth.  He  is  a 
singularly  awful  character  ;  and  I  am  fearfully  alarm- 
ed, lest  the  gospel  which  he  so  heartily  despises,  yet 
affects  to  reverence,  should  prove  the  savor  of  death 
unto  death  to  him.  Some,  I  trust,  are  savingly  awak- 
ened, while  many  are  inquiring  ;  thus  the  great  Lord 
of  the  harvest  hath  put  honor  on  your  ministry,  and 
hath  given  my  heart  an  encouraging  token  of  the  util- 
ity of  our  feeble  efforts." 

It  is  related  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Church,  a  clergy- 
man who  died  curate  of  Battersea,  near  London,  one 
day  called  on  Bolingbroke,  who  said  to  him,  "  You 
have  caught  me  reading  John  Calvin  ;  he  was  indeed 
a  man  of  great  parts,  profound  sense,  and  vast  learn- 
ing ;  he  handles  the  doctrines  of  grace  in  a  very  mas- 
terly manner."  "Doctrines  of  grace,"  replied  the 
clergyman  ;  "  the  doctrines  of  grace  have  set  all  man- 
kind by  the  ears."  "I  am  surprised  to  hear  you  say 
so,'"  answered  Lord  Bolingbroke,  "  you  who  profess  to 
believe  and  to  preach  Christianity.  Those  doctrines 
are  certainly  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  if  I  be- 
lieve the  Bible  I  must  believe  them.  And  let  me  seri- 
ously tell  you,  that  the  greatest  miracle  in  the  world 
is  the  subsistence  of  Christianity,  and  its  continued 
preservation,  as  a  religion,  when  the  preaching  of  it 


304  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

is  committed  to  the  care  of  such  unchristian  men  as 
you." 

At  this  period  Whitefield  renewed  his  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Rev.  James  Hervey,  who  has  not  im- 
properly been  called  the  Melaucthon  of  the  second 
reformation  in  England.  Among  all  the  converts  of 
our  evangelist,  no  one  was  more  distinguished  for  piety, 
or  for  his  fascination  as  a  writer,  than  this  admirable 
clergyman.  His  writings,  though  too  flowery  in  their 
style,  were  eminently  suitable,  as  Whitefield  himself 
says,  "  for  the  taste  of  the  polite  world."  Hervey 
wrote  to  Whitefield,  "  Your  journals  and  sermons,  and 
especially  that  sweet  sermon  on  '  What  think  ye  of 
Christ  ?'  were  a  means  of  bringing  me  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth."  Whitefield  felt  the  warmest 
attachment  to  Hervey  in  return,  and  when  he  intro- 
duced some  of  his  works  into  America,  wrote,  "  The 
author  is  my  old  friend  ;  a  most  heavenly-minded 
creature ;  one  of  the  first  Methodists,  who  is  contented 
with  a  small  cure,  and  gives  all  he  has  to  the  poor. 
We  correspond  with,  though  we  cannot  see  each 
other."  Whitefield  intimated  in  one  of  his  journals 
his  intention  of  sketching  Hervey's  character,  but  this 
was  one  of  the  many  intended  things  which  were 
never  accomplished.  Dr.  Doddridge  wrote  a  preface 
to  one  of  his  works,  which  Warburton,  as  might  be 
expected,  called  "  a  weak  rhapsody." 

Under  the  auspices  of  Lady  Huntingdon,  a  prayer- 
meeting  was  established  for  the  women  who,  from  the 
circles  of  rank  and  fashion,  became  the  followers  of 
the  Lord.  Among  these  were  Lady  Frances  Gardiner, 
Lady  Mary  Hamilton,  daughter  of  the  Marquis  of 


IN  ENGLAND.  305 

Lothian,  who  had  attended  the  ministry  of  Whitefield 
in  Scotland,  Lady  Gertrude  Hotham  and  Countess 
Delitz,  sisters  of  Lady  Chesterfield,  Lady  Chesterfield 
herself,  and  Lady  Fanny  Shirley.  "Religion,"  says 
Lady  Huntingdon,  when  writing  to  Doddridge,  "  was 
never  so  much  the  subject  of  conversation  as  now. 
Some  of  the  great  ones  hear  with  me  the  gospel  pa- 
tiently, and  thus  much  seed  is  sown  by  Mr.  White- 
field's  preaching.  0  that  it  may  fall  on  good  ground, 
and  bring  forth  abundantly." 

Some  one,  we  believe  a  bishop,  complained  to 
George  II.  of  the  popularity  and  success  of  White- 
field,  and  entreated  his  majesty  in  some  way  or  other 
to  silence  him.  The  monarch,  thinking,  no  doubt,  of 
the  class  described  by  the  martyr  Latimer,  as  "  un- 
preaching  prelates,"  replied  with  jocose  severity,  "  I 
believe  the  best  way  will  be  to  make  a  bishop  of 
him." 

But  if  Whitefield  was  honored  by  some  of  the 
great,  he  received  from  others  unmingled  hostility. 
Horace  Walpole,  the  gay  man,  and  the  corrupt  cour- 
tier, thought  it  worth  while  to  introduce  the  Methodist 
preacher  into  his  "Private  Correspondence."  The 
statement  he  makes  of  professed  facts  is  altogether 
incredible,  but  shows  unmistakably  the  spirit  of  the 
writer.  "  The  apostle  Whitefield  is  come  to  some 
shame.  He  went  to  Lady  Huntingdon  lately,  and 
asked  for  forty  pounds  for  some  distressed  saint  or 
other.  She  said  she  had  not  so  much  money  in  the 
house,  but  would  give  it  him  the  first  time  she  had. 
He  was  very  pressing,  but  in  vain.  At  last  he  said, 
'There's  your  watch  and  trinkets,  you  don't  want 


306  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

such  vanities  ;  I  will  have  that.'  She  would  have  put 
him  off ;  but  he  persisting,  she  said, '  Well,  if  you  must 
have  it,  you  must.'  About  a  fortnight  afterwards, 
going  to  his  house,  and  being  carried  into  his  wife's 
chamber,  among  the  paraphernalia  of  the  latter  the 
countess  found  her  own  offering.  This  has  made  a 
terrible  schism ;  she  tells  the  story  herself.  I  had 
.  not  it  from  Saint  Frances,  [Lady  Fanny  Shirley,]  but 
I  hope  it  is  true."  Every  thing  goes  to  prove  the 
sincerity  of  his  hope,  though  founded  on  falsehood. 

It  has  generally  happened  that  the  most  effective 
public  speakers,  whether  secular  or  sacred,  have  been 
accused  by  a  fastidious  class  with  vulgarisms.  So  with 
Cicero,  Burke,  and  Chatham ;  so  with  Patrick  Henry 
and  Daniel  Webster ;  and  to  turn  to  eminent  preach- 
ers, so  with  Luther,  Latimer,  and  Whitefield.  The 
reason  was,  that  intent  on  the  greatest  good  to  the 
greatest  number,  they  used  what  Dr.  Johnson,  after 
Daniel  Burgess,  called  "market  language."  Dr.  Will- 
iam Bates,  an  accomplished  and  courtly  non-conform- 
ist minister,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  once  com- 
plained in  the  presence  of  his  faithful  but  unpolished 
friend  Daniel  Burgess,  that  he  found  very  little  suc- 
cess in  his  work  as  a  minister ;  when  his  aged  brother 
smartly  replied,  "  Thank  your  velvet  mouth  for  that — 
too  fine  to  speak  market  language."  Whitefield,  very 
happily  for  thousands,  had  no  squeamishness  of  this 
sort. 

Some  ladies  called  one  Saturday  morning  to  pay  a 
visit  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  and  during  the  interview, 
her  ladyship  inquired  of  them  if  they  had  ever  heard 
Mr.  Whitefield  preach.  On  being  answered  in  the 


IN  ENGLAND.  307 

negative,  she  said,  "  I  wish  you  would  hear  him  •  he 
is  to  preach  to-morrow  evening."  They  promised  her 
ladyship  they  would  certainly  attend.  They  fulfilled 
their  promise ;  and  when  they  called  on  her  ladyship 
the  next  Monday  morning,  she  anxiously  inquired  if 
they  had  heard  Mr.  Whitefield  on  the  previous  even- 
ing, and  how  they  liked  him.  The  reply  was,  "  Oh, 
my  lady,  of  all  the  preachers  we  ever  heard,  he  is  the 
most  strange  and  unaccountable!  Among  other  pre- 
posterous things,  would  your  ladyship  believe  it,  he 
declared  that  Jesus  Christ  was  so  willing  to  receive 
sinners,  that  he  did  not  object  to  receive  even  the 
devil's  castaways  !  Now,  my  lady,  did  you  ever  hear 
of  such  a  thing  since  you  were  born  ?"  Her  ladyship, 
in  reply,  said,  "  There  is  something,  I  acknowledge,  a 
little  singular  in  the  invitation,  and  I  do  not  recollect 
to  have  met  with  it  before ;  but  as  Mr.  Whitefield  is 
below  in  the  parlor,  we  will  have  him  up,  and  let  him 
answer  for  himself." 

On  Mr.  Whitefield's  entering  the  drawing-room, 
Lady  Huntingdon  said,  "  Sir,  these  ladies  have  been 
preferring  a  very  heavy  charge  against  you,  and  I 
thought  it  best  that  you  should  come  up  and  defend 
yourself.  They  say,  that  in  your  sermon  last  evening, 
in  speaking  of  the  willingness  of  Jesus  Christ  to  re- 
ceive sinners,  you  said,  that  '  so  ready  was  Christ  to 
receive  sinners  who  came  to  him,  that  he  was  willing 
to  receive  even  the  devil's  castaways.' "  Mr.  White- 
field  immediately  replied,  "  I  certainly,  my  lady,  must 
plead  guilty  to  the  charge ;  whether  I  did  what  was 
right,  or  otherwise,  your  ladyship  shall  judge  when 
you  have  heard  a  fact.  Did  your  ladyship  notice, 


308  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

about  half  an  hour  ago,  a  very  modest  single  rap  at 
the  door  ?  It  was  given  by  a  poor,  miserable  looking 
aged  female,  who  requested  to  speak  with  me.  I  de- 
sired that  she  might  be  shown  into  the  parlor,  when 
she  thus  addressed  me :  '  I  believe,  sir,  you  preached 
last  evening  at  such  a  chapel.'  '  Yes,  I  did.'  '  Ah, 
sir,  I  was  accidentally  passing  the  door  of  that  chapel, 
and  hearing  the  voice  of  some  one  preaching,  I  did 
what  I  have  never  been  in  the  habit  of  doing — I  went 
in ;  and  one  of  the  first  things  I  heard  you  say,  was, 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  so  willing  to  receive  sinners, 
that  he  did  not  object  to  receive  the  devil's  castaways. 
Do  you  think,  sir,  that  Jesus  Christ  would  receive  me  ?' 
I  answered  her  that  there  was  not  a  doubt  of  it,  if  she 
was  but  willing  to  go  to  him." 

It  is  pleasant  to  add,  that  the  impression  conveyed 
in  the  singular  language  of  Mr.  Whitefield  ended  in 
the  conversion  of  the  poor  woman  to  God.  She  gave 
satisfactory  evidence  that  her  great  and  numerous  sins 
had  been  forgiven  through  the  atonement  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Was  Mr.  Whitefield  to  be  censured  for 
the  use  of  this  language  ? 

In  September,  1748,  Mr.  Whitefield  made  his  third 
visit  to  Scotland,  where  he  met  with  a  cordial  wel- 
come, and  where  his  labors  became  increasingly  val- 
ued. Some  of  the  clergy  at  Glasgow,  Perth,  and 
Edinburgh  used  their  influence  to  exclude  him  from 
the  pulpits,  but  the  majority  voted  in  his  favor ;  and 
a  full  examination  vindicated  his  character,  and  made 
his  excellences  more  generally  known.  All  the  min- 
isters who  were  disposed  to  invite  him  to  preach,  were 
at  liberty  to  do  so,  except  in  the  presbytery  of  Edin- 


IN  ENGLAND.  309 

burgh ;  here,  however,  he  was  accommodated  by  the 
magistrates  with  a  church  to  preach  in  whenever  he 
visited  the  city.  In  Scotland  he  now  warmly  advo- 
cated the  cause  of  the  college  in  New  Jersey  :  of  the 
results  of  his  labors  we  shall  hear  more  hereafter. 

On  his  return  to  London,  Whitefield  resumed  his 
preaching  at  Lady  Huntingdon's  to  "  the  great  ones," 
as  he  calls  them.  Thirty,  and  sometimes  even  sixty 
persons  of  rank  attended,  although  the  newspapers 
gave  false  and  degrading  accounts  of  the  reception  he 
met  with  in  Scotland.  He  now  availed  himself  of  the 
influence  he  possessed,  to  forward  his  intended  college, 
in  addition  to  his  orphan-house,  for  which  his  plea 
was,  "  If  some  such  thing  be  not  done,  I  cannot  see 
how  the  southern  parts  will  be  provided  with  minis- 
ters ;  for  all  are  afraid  to  go  over."  On  this  ground 
he  appealed  to  the  trustees  of  Georgia;  reminding 
them  that  he  had  expended  five  thousand  pounds  upon 
the  orphan-house;  begging  them  to  relieve  it,  as  a 
charitable  institution,  from  all  quit-rent  and  taxes; 
and  especially  to  allow  him  the  labor  of  blacks  in  cul- 
tivating the  farm.  "  White  hands,"  he  said,  "  had  left 
his  tract  of  land  uncultivated." 

It  will  not  be  expected  that  Whitefield  could  stay 
long,  even  in  the  courtly  circles  of  London,  where  he 
met  with  so  much  acceptance.  We  very  soon  find  him 
among  his  old  friends  at  Gloucester  and  Bristol.  The 
bishop  of  the  latter  see,  he  says,  behaved  very  respect- 
fully to  him ;  he  visited  also  his  old  tutor,  now  be- 
come one  of  the  prebendaries,  and  met  with  the  old 
kindness  received  at  Oxford.  "  I  told  him,  that  my 
judgment,  as  I  trust,  was  a  little  more  ripened  than  it 


310  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

was  some  years  ago ;  and  that  as  fast  as  I  found  out 
niy  faults,  I  should  be  glad  to  acknowledge  them. 
He  said  the  offence  of  the  governors  of  the  church 
would  wear  off  as  I  grew  moderate"  The  evangelist 
did  not  tell  the  doctor  how  little  he  cared  for  such 
moderation  as  the  governors  of  the  church  in  that  day 
required ;  but  he  wrote  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  on  the 
subject  of  their  favor,  "  I  am  pretty  easy  about  that. 
If  I  can  but  act  an  honest  part,  and  be  kept  from 
trimming,  I  leave  all  consequences  to  Him  who  orders 
all  things  well."  During  this  journey,  many  new  con- 
verts were  won.  One  of  these  was  a  counsellor,  who 
was  so  much  affected,  that  his  zeal  in  inviting  others 
to  hear  Whitefield  led  his  wife  to  suspect  him  of 
madness. 

An  interesting  fact  connected  with  Gloucester- 
shire, his  native  county,  may  be  introduced  in  this 
place,  though  we  are  not  sure  that  it  occurred  during 
this  journey.  John  Skinner  of  Houndscroft  was  a 
strolling  fiddler,  going  from  fair  to  fair,  supplying 
music  to  any  party  that  would  hire  him.  Having 
determined  to  interrupt  Mr.  Whitefield  while  preach- 
ing, he  obtained  a  standing  on  a  ladder  raised  to  a 
window  near  the  pulpit.  Here  he  remained  a  quiet, 
if  not  an  attentive  hearer,  till  the  text  was  read,  when 
he  intended  to  begin  his  annoying  exercise  on  the  vio- 
lin. It  pleased  God,  however,  while  he  was  putting 
his  instrument  in  tune,  to  convey  the  word  preached 
with  irresistible  power  to  his  soul ;  his  attention  was 
diverted  from  his  original  purpose,  he  heard  the  whole 
sermon,  and  became  a  new  man. 

Happily  Whitefield  was  blessed  in  bringing  to 


IN  ENGLAND.  311 

Christ  many  who  were  made  eminently  useful.  Among 
others  we  might  mention  the  late  Rev.  Cornelius 
Winter,  an  eminent  minister,  who  afterwards  accom- 
panied our  evangelist  in  his  last  voyage  to  America, 
and  who  after  his  death  conveyed  his  will  to  Eng- 
land, and  sought  ordination  to  return  and  labor  in 
Georgia.  Disappointed  in  this,  he  became  an  able 
and  successful  minister  in  England  ;  and  also  trained 
several  young  men  for  the  Christian  ministry,  in- 
cluding the  late  celebrated  William  Jay  of  Bath. 
Whitefield  had  often  been  heard  by  Winter  with 
great  pleasure,  for  he  admired  his  eloquence  ;  but  for 
some  time  no  good  effects  were  apparent.  One  night, 
while  playing  at  cards,  an  amusement  in  which  he 
much  delighted,  and  though  surrounded  by  a  number 
of  gay  companions,  the  thought  presented  itself  to 
Winter's  mind  that  he  might  that  evening  hear  his 
favorite  preacher.  He  broke  off  from  play  in  the 
midst  of  the  game,  which  made  his  companions  very 
angry,  as  they  suspected  where  he  was  going.  He 
tells  us  that  it  was  a  night  much  to  be  remembered. 
He  had  reason  to  hope  the  scales  of  ignorance  were 
then  removed  from  his  eyes,  he  had  a  sense  of  his 
misery  as  a  sinner,  and  was  led  to  earnest  inquiry 
after  the  way  of  salvation.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  say,  that  he  never  again  played  at  cards. 

From  the  exhilarating  scenes  of  Gloucestershire 
and  Bristol,  we  must  accompany  Whitefield  into  Corn- 
wall, among  the  glens  and  dales  of  which,  or  on 
the  seaside  to  a  somewhat  similar  population  and 
with  almost  equal  success,  he  spoke  "  all  the  words  of 
this  life."  The  robust  and  determined  miners  of  the 


312  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

west  of  England,  whose  very  employment  gives  hardi- 
hood alike  to  their  character  and  frame,  at  first  re- 
ceived him  in  somewhat  rough  and  unpolished  style, 
but  were  soon  after  melted  and  transformed  by  the 
grace  which  had  displayed  its  triumphs  among  their 
brethren  at  Kingswood.  "I  am  just  returned,"  he 
writes  on  one  occasion,  "  from  near  the  Land's  End, 
where  thousands  and  thousands  heard  the  gospel  glad- 
ly. Everywhere  the  word  of  God  has  run  and  been 
glorified.  Every  day  I  have  been  travelling  and 
preaching ;  and  could  I  stay  a  month,  it  might  be 
spent  to  great  advantage.  At  a  place  called  Port 
Isaac,  the  Redeemer's  stately  steps  were  indeed  seen. 
At  Camelford  I  preached  with  great  quietness  in  the 
streets.  At  St.  Ann's  we  had  a  very  powerful  season ; 
and  yesterday  at  Redruth  several  thousands  attended, 
and  the  word  was  quick  and  powerful."  Again  he 
writes,  "  Immediately  after  writing  my  last,  I  preach- 
ed to  many  thousands  at  a  place  called  Gwennap. 
The  rain  descended,  but  the  grace  of  God  seemed  to 
fall  like  a  gentle  dew,  sprinkling  rain  upon  our  souls. 
It  was  indeed  a  fine  spring  shower.  In  the  evening 
I  rode  to  St.  Ives,  and  preached  to  many  who  gladly 
attended  to  hear  the  word  ;  a  great  power  seemed  to 
accompany  it.  On  the  Lord's  day  I  preached  twice 
to  great  auditories.  On  Monday  I  preached  again  at 
Redruth,  at  ten  in  the  morning,  to  nearly,  as  they 
were  computed,  ten  thousand  souls.  Arrows  of  con- 
viction seemed  to  fly  fast."  Again,  in  a  communica- 
tion to  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  he  says,  "  I  have 
been  very  near  the  Land's  End,  and  everywhere  souls 
have  fled  to  hear  the  word  preached,  '  like  doves  to 


IN  ENGLAND.  313 

their  windows.'  The  harvest  is  great,  yea,  very  great, 
but  laborers  are  few.  0  that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest 
would  thrust  out  more  laborers."  And  yet  again  he 
says,  "  Invitations  are  sent  to  me  from  Falmouth  and 
several  other  places,  but  I  cannot  attend  to  them  all 
at  present.  I  want  more  tongues,  more  bodies,  more 
souls,  for  the  Lord  Jesus.  Had  I  ten  thousand,  he 
should  have  them  all."  Such  was  the  noble  spirit  he 
displayed,  and  such  were  the  manner  and  fruits  of  his 
"  entering  in  among"  the,  at  that  time,  benighted  chil- 
dren of  Cornwall.  A  great  light  shone  upon  them. 
They  came  from  the  caverns  of  the  earth  to  welcome 
its  rising,  and  to  look  upon  its  brightness.  Thousands 
of  them  were  indeed  "  brought  out  of  darkness  into 
marvellous  light,"  and  turned  by  it  from  sin  to  holi- 
ness, and  from  Satan  to  God ;  and  thousands  are  still 
rejoicing  in  its  beams. 

On  his  return  to  London,  Whitefield  found  his 
assemblies  at  the  countess's  "brilliant  indeed,"  and 
Lord  Bolingbroke  still  one  among  them.  Of  this  tal- 
ented nobleman  our  evangelist  at  this  time  indulged 
a  happy  hope,  which,  alas,  seems  never  to  have  been 
realized. 

In  February,  1749,  Whitefield  made  an  excursion 
to  Exeter  and  Plymouth,  where  he  was  agreeably  sur- 
prised to  find  a  great  alteration  had  taken  place  since 
his  preceding  visit,  five  years  before.  He  loved  to 
"  range,"  as  he  called  it,  "  after  precious  souls,"  and 
happily  for  him  and  for  others  he  found  them.  Dur- 
ing this  and  subsequent  visits  to  Plymouth,  he  resided 
with  the  Rev.  Andrew  Kinsman,  an  excellent  Congre- 
gational minister,  of  whom  we  have  already  spoken. 

Whitefield.  14 


314  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

He  was  born  in  Devonshire  in  1724,  and  was  there- 
fore ten  years  younger  than  Whitefield.  While  pecul- 
iarly amiable  in  his  manners,  and  remarkable  for  his 
regard  to  his  parents,  he  was  unacquainted  with  the 
religion  of  the  heart  till  his  seventeenth  year,  when  he 
met  with  a  volume  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  sermons,  and 
one  of  those  on  the  new  birth  alarmed  him.  His 
pious  friends  were  few,  but  his  religious  feelings  were 
deeply  moved,  and  God  at  length  gave  him  "  the  oil 
of  joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment  of  praise  for  the 
spirit  of  heaviness."  Concerned  for  the  highest  inter- 
ests of  his  relatives,  he  one  night,  as  the  family  were 
retiring  to  rest,  broke  out,  with  intense  emotion, "  What, 
shall  we  go  to  bed  without  prayer  ?  How  do  we  know 
but  some  of  us  may  awake  in  hell  before  morning?" 
This  unexpected  address  struck  the  family  with  solemn 
awe ;  and  while  they  looked  at  each  other  with  con- 
scious shame,  for  the  neglect  of  so  clear  a  duty,  he 
fell  upon  his  knees  and  prayed  with  so  much  readi- 
ness and  fervor  that  it  excited  their  astonishment. 

As  might  be  expected,  his  concern  for  others  did 
not  stop  here ;  he  was  anxious  that  his  neighbors 
might  also  find  "  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ." 
He  began,  therefore,  to  read  Whitefield's  sermons  to 
as  many  as  would  attend,  supposing,  with  Melancthon, 
that  what  had  proved  so  great  a  blessing  to  himself, 
would  not  fail  of  similar  effects  on  others,  as  soon  as 
they  were  heard.  After  a  short  time,  he  began  him- 
self to  expound  and  preach,  and  was  encouraged  by 
many  conversions  under  his  ministry,  including  those 
of  his  father,  mother,  and  three  sisters.  Not  long 
after  these  events,  Whitefield,  in  entering  on  one  of 


IN  ENGLAND.  315 

his  voyages  to  America,  had  been  compelled  to  stay 
at  Plymouth,  where  Kinsman  first  saw  and  heard  him. 
By  a  series  of  remarkable  events,  Mr.  Kinsman  was 
brought  to  settle  as  a  minister  at  Plymouth,  where 
the  "Tabernacle"  was  erected  on  ground  given  by 
himself,  and  the  congregation  were  served  by  him  and 
other  ministers  with  abundant  success.  In  the  whole 
neighborhood  an  extraordinary  blessing  attended  his 
labors,  and  his  usefulness  and  deliverances  from  dan- 
ger were  only  second  to  those  of  Whitefield  himself. 
Nor  was  he  less  respected,  nor  his  ministry  attended 
with  less  success,  at  Bristol  and  London — cities  to 
which  he  was  invited  by  Whitefield;  who  used  to 
call  Bristol  " Kinsman's  Jlmerica"  alluding  to  his  own 
reception  and  success  in  the  western  world. 

On  one  occasion,  when  Whitefield  was  about  to 
sail  for  America,  he  sent  for  Kinsman  to  London,  and 
on  his  arrival  dined  with  his  distinguished  friend  at 
the  Tabernacle  house.  After  dinner  there  was  a  vio- 
lent storm  of  thunder  and  lightning.  As  they  stood  at 
the  window  looking  out  on  the  raging  elements,  Mr. 
Kinsman,  supposing  a  young  clergyman  who  had  dined 
with  them,  and  who  now  stood  by  his  side,  to  be  a 
pious  man,  familiarly  put  his  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
and  with  great  cheerfulness  and  energy  repeated  the 
lines  of  Dr.  Watts  :  • 

"  The  God  who  rules  on  high, 
And  thunders  when  he  please ;  . 
Who  rides  upon  the  stormy  sky, 
And  manages  the  seas — 
This  awful  God  is  ours, 
Our  Father,  and  our  love!" 


316  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

The  words  so  appropriately  introduced,  and  so 
emphatically  spoken,  made  a  deep  impression  on  the 
mind  of  the  young  clergyman,  and  gave  rise  to>  a  con- 
versation which,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  led  to  his 
conversion. 

At  the  Tabernacle  in  London,  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Kinsman  was  greatly  distinguished  for  its  excellence 
and  success,  and  he  thought  himself  highly  honored  in 
preaching  the  first  sermon  delivered  from  the  pulpit 
of  the  present  Tabernacle.  His  musical  voice,  his 
lively  and  pathetic  address,  and  the  richness  of  the 
evangelical  truths  he  proclaimed,  brought  numbers  oi 
all  classes  of  society  to  hear  him.  Among  them  was 
Shuter,  the  comedian,  to  whom  we  shall  again  refer 
as  a  hearer  of  Whitefield,  and  who  years  afterwards, 
in  an  interview  with  Kinsman,  drew  a  striking  con- 
trast between  their  professions,  and  bitterly  lamented 
that 'he  had  not  cordially  embraced  religion,  when  his 
conscience  was  impressed  under  the  preaching  of  the 
great  evangelist. 

But  we  must  not  stay  longer  to  speak  of  Kinsman ; 
suffice  it  to  say  that  he  founded,  in  addition  to  Plym- 
outh, a  new  church  three  miles  from  thence,  at  a  place 
now  called  Devonport,  and  labored  with  energy  and 
holy  success  till  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  when  he 
died  in  triumph,  February  28,  1793.  Of  such  a  man 
it  was  truly  said,  that  for  Whitefield  "  he  retained  the 
most  filial  affection  to  his  dying  day;  and  frequently 
travelled  with,  and  consulted  him  as  a  father  upon  all 
his  religious  concerns." 

In  March  Whitefield  returned  to  London,  where 
the  feeble  state  of  his  health  made  him  feel  weary 


IN  ENGLAND.  311 

even  in  his  success.  He  says,  "  I  have  seen  enough  of 
popularity  to  be  sick  of  it,  and  did  not  the  interest  of 
my  blessed  Master  require  my  appearing  in  public, 
the  world  should  hear  but  little  of  me  henceforward." 
Yet  his  zeal  abated  not.  "  I  dread  the  thoughts  of 
flagging  in  the  latter  stages  of  my  road,"  is  an  expres- 
sion often  used  in  his  letters  to  his  friends.  He 
thought  that  preaching  and  travelling  contributed  to 
his  health.  In  a  letter  to  Hervey,  he  says,  "Fear  not 
your  weak  body,  we  are  immortal  till  our  work  is 
done.  Christ's  laborers  must  live  by  miracle ;  if  not, 
I  must  not  live  at  all,  for  God  only  knows  what  I 
daily  endure.  My  continual  vomitings  almost  kill 
me,  and  yet  the  pulpit  is  my  cure  ;  so  that  my  friends 
begin  to  pity  me  less,  and  to  leave  off  that  ungrateful 
caution,  'Spare  thyself.'  I  speak  this  to  encourage 
you." 

All  this  Whitefield  meant.  Hence  in  May  we  find 
him  preaching  at  Portsmouth  daily,  for  more  than  a 
week,  to  very  large  and  attentive  auditories ;  where 
was  shown  another  remarkable  instance  of  the  power 
which  attended  his  preaching,  for  many  who  a  few 
days  before  were  speaking  all  manner  of  evil  against 
him,  were  very  desirous  of  his  longer  stay  to  preach 
the  gospel  among  them.  From  Bristol,  June  24,  he 
writes,  "  Yesterday  God  brought  me  here,  after  a  cir- 
cuit of  about  eight  hundred  miles,  and  enabled  me  to 
preach  to,  I  suppose,  upwards  of  a  hundred  thousand 
souls.  I  have  been  in  eight  Welsh  counties,  and  I 
think  we  have  not  had  one  dry  meeting.  The  work 
in  Wales  is  much  upon  the  advance,  and  likely  to 
increase  daily." 


318  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Whitefield  returned  to  London  to  welcome  his 
wife  ligme  from  the  Bermuda  Islands.  From  her  he 
learned  that  there  his  character  had  been  aspersed  by 
one  of  the  clergy ;  but  while  he  grieved  over  the  fact, 
he  said,  "  I  am  content  to  wait  till  the  day  of  judgment 
for  the  clearing  up  of  my  character;  and  after  I  am 
dead,  I  desire  no  other  epitaph  than  this,  'Here  lies 
George  Whitefield.  What  sort  of  a  man  he  was,  the 
great  day  will  discover.' " 

In  the  midst  of  his  sorrows,  Whitefield  was  com- 
forted by  a  visit  from  two  German  ministers,  who  had 
been  laboring  among  the  Jews  with  apparently  happy 
results.  He  found  also  several  of  the  peeresses,  and 
others  of  "the  great,"  cordially  disposed  to  receive 
him;  and  shortly  afterwards  was  visited  by  Mr.  Grim- 
shaw,  a  clergyman  from  Yorkshire,  for  whom  in  Sep- 
tember he  went  to  preach.  Thousands  in  the  village  of 
Haworth  attended  his  preaching,  even  ten  thousand  at 
a  time,  and  a  thousand  communicants  approached  the 
table  of  the  Lord.  At  Leeds  also  he  preached,  at  the 
invitation  of  Mr.  Wesley's  people,  to  ten  thousand 
persons,  and  Mr.  Charles  Wesley  himself  introduced 
him  to  the  pulpit  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 

In  the  north  of  England  the  visits  of  Mr.  White- 
field  were  always  looked  for  with  intense  interest.  In 
one  of  his  letters,  he  thus  describes  the  state  of  things 
there  in  August,  1756 :  "  It  is  now  a  fortnight  since  I 
came  to  Leeds,  in  and  about  which  I  preached  eight 
days  successively,  three  times  almost  every  day,  to 
thronged  and  affected  auditories.  On  Sunday  last  at 
Bradford,  in  the  morning,  the  audience  consisted  of 
above  ten  thousand ;  at  noon,  and  in  the  evening,  at 


IN  ENGLAND.  319 

Birstal,  of  nearly  double  that  number.  Though  hoarse, 
I  was  able  to  speak  so  that  they  all  heard."  These 
hallowed  services  were  often  spoken  of  by  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Fawcett,  for  more  than  half  a  century 
an  eminent.  Baptist  minister  of  that  neighborhood,  to 
whose  soul  they  proved  a  rich  blessing.  After  hav- 
ing heard  Whitefield  at  Bradford  in  the  morning,  he 
followed  him  to  Birstal,  where  a  platform  was  erected 
at  the  foot  of  a  hill  adjoining  the  town,  whence  Mr. 
Whitefield  addressed  an  immense  concourse  of  people, 
not  fewer,  it  was  believed,  than  twenty  thousand,  who 
were  ranged  before  him  on  the  declivity  in  the  form 
of  an  amphitheatre.  "  I  lay,"  says  Fawcett,  "  under 
the  scaffold,  and  it  appeared  as  if  all  his  words  were 
addressed  to  me,  and  as  if  he  had  known  my  most 
secret  thoughts  from  ten  years  of  age.  As  long  as 
life  remains,  I  shall  remember  both  the  text  and  the 
sermon."  Accustomed  as  he  was  to  preach  to  large 
and  promiscuous  multitudes,  when  he  looked  on  this 
vast  assemblage,  and  was  about  to  mount  the  tempo- 
rary stage,  he  expressed  to  his  surrounding  friends  a 
considerable  feeling  of  timidity ;  but  when  'he  began 
to  speak,  an  unusual  solemnity  pervaded  the  assembly, 
and  thousands,  in  the  course  of  the  sermon,  as  was 
often  the  fact,  gave  vent  to  their  emotions  by  tears 
and  groans.  Fools  who  came  to  mock,  began  to  pray, 
and  to  cry  out,  "  What  must  we  da  to  be  saved?" 

Mr.  Shirley,  in  giving  an  account  of  this  same  ser- 
vice, tells  us  that  "  not  only  the  field,  but  the  wood- 
lands about  it,  were  covered  with  crowds  collected 
from  different  parts.  An  unusual  solemnity  pervaded 
this  vast  multitude,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  the 


320  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

one  hundredth  psalm  was  sung,  and  concluded  with 
Mr.  Grimshaw's  favorite  doxology, 

" '  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow.' 

The  volume  of  sound  produced  by  the  united  voices 
of  thousands,  while  it  reechoed  through  the  vale  be- 
low, had  such  an  effect  as  no  language  can  describe." 

Mr.  Grimshaw  was  a  very  remarkable  clergyman 
connected  with  the  church  of  England,  though  found 
fault  with  on  account  of  his  irregularity.  He  studied 
at  Cambridge  for  the  ministry  before  he  was  acquaint- 
ed with  the  reality  of  true  religion.  His  conversion 
was  very  striking  ;  after  which  he  became  a  remarka- 
bly faithful  and  pungent  preacher.  He  settled  at 
Haworth,  in  Yorkshire,  where  Mr.  Whitefield  visited 
him. 

In  one  of  the  services  held  by  Mr.  Whitefield  in 
Yorkshire,  a  deep  solemnity  was  created  by  providen- 
tial circumstances.  He  had  mounted  the  temporary 
scaffold  to  address  the  thousands  before  him.  Cast- 
ing a  look  over  the  multitude,  he  elevated  his  hands, 
and  in  an  energetic  manner  implored  the  divine  pres- 
ence and  blessing.  With  a  solemnity  peculiarly  his 
own,  he  then  announced  his  text,  "  It  is  appointed 
unto  men  once  to  die,  but  after  this  the  judgment." 
Heb.  11  :  27.  After  a  short  pause,  as  he  was  about 
to  proceed,  a  wild,  terrifying  shriek  issued  from  the 
centre  of  the  congregation.  A  momentary  alarm  and 
confusion  ensued.  Mr.  Whitefield  waited  to  ascertain 
the  cause,  and  requested  the  people  to  remain  still. 
Mr.  Grimshaw  hurried  to  the  spot,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes was  seen  pressing  towards  the  place  where  Mr. 


IN  ENGLAND.  321 

Whitefield  stood.  "Brother  Whitefield,"  said  he, 
manifesting  in  the  strongest  manner  the  intensity  of 
his  feelings,  and  the  ardor  of  his  concern  for  the  sal- 
vation of  sinners,  "you  stand  among  the  dead  and  the 
dying.  An  immortal  soul  has  been  called  into  eter- 
nity ;  the  destroying  angel  is  passing  over  the  con- 
gregation; cry  aloud,  and  spare  not."  The  awful 
occurrence  was  speedily  announced  to  the  congrega- 
tion. After  the  lapse  of  a  few  moments,  Mr.  White- 
field  again  announced  his  text.  Again  a  loud  and 
piercing  shriek  proceeded  from  the  spot  near  where 
Lady  Huntingdon  and  Lady  Margaret  Ingham  were 
standing.  A  thrill  of  horror  seemed  to  escape  from 
the  multitude  when  it  was  understood  that  a  second 
person  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  king  of  terrors. 
When  the  consternation  had  somewhat  subsided,  Mr. 
Whitefield  gave  indications  of  proceeding  with  the 
service.  The  excited  feelings  of  many  were  wound  up 
to  their  highest  point.  All  was  hushed  j  not  a  sound 
was  to  be  heard ;  and  a  stillness  like  the  awful  silence  / 
of  death  spread  over  the  assembly,  as  he  proceeded  in 
melting  strains  to  warn  the  careless,  Christless  sinner 
to  "  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come." 

As  winter  was  now  approaching,  Whitefield  felt  it 
important  to  return  to  the  metropolis.  During  the 
tour  he  had  made,  he  won  to  Christ  not  a  few  of  those 
who  afterwards  laid  the  foundations  of  churches  now 
flourishing  in  the  counties  of  Lancaster,  York,  and 
Northumberland.  He  met,  however,  with  so  much 
"rude  treatment  here  and  there,  as  sent  him  home 
praying,  'Lord,  give  me  a  pilgrim  heart  for  my  pil- 
grim life.' "  He  was  now  in  "  winter  quarters,"  but 


322  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

was  neither  idle  nor  useless.  To  use  his  own  words, 
"  The  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  tabernacle,  and  the 
shout  of  a  king  was  in  the  camp,"  and  that  from  week 
to  week.  "  Thousands,  thousands  crowded  to  hear." 
Every  day  also  he  heard  of  instances  of  conversion. 
One  of  these  pleased  him  greatly.  It  was  that  of  a 
boatswain,  who,  before  hearing  him,  knew  no  more 
about  divine  truth  "than  the  whistle  he  blew  on 
board."  He  mentions  also  a  boy  eleven  years  of  age, 
a  woman  of  eighty,  and  a  baker,  who  had  been  "a 
Jerusalem  sinner,"  all  of  whom  bowed  before  the 
cross,  and  placed  their  hopes  of  salvation  on  Him 
who  died  thereon. 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

LABORS     IN     G-REAT     BRITAIN— FOURTH     VISIT     TO 
AMERICA— NEW     TABERNACLE     IN    LONDON,  AND 
TABERNACLE   AT   BRISTOL. 
175Q.-1754. 

AT  the  beginning  of  the  year  1750,  Whitefield  was 
still  in  London.  At  this  time  his  intended  college  at 
Bethesda  occupied  much  of  his  attention.  He  wrote 
to  his  friends  in  every  quarter  for  help.  His  usual 
appeal  was,  "We  propose  having  an  academy  or  col- 
lege at  the  orphan-house.  The  house  is  large,  and 
will  hold  a  hundred.  My  heart,  I  trust,  is  larger,  and 
will  hold  ten  thousand."  Though  in  London,  his 
heart  was  in  America.  He  says,  "  Banging  seems  my 
province ;  and  methinks  I  hear  a  voice  behind  me  say- 
ing, '  This  is  the  way,  walk  in  it.'  My  heart  echoes 
back,  'Lord,  let  thy  presence  go  with  me,  and  then 
send  me  where  thou  pleasest.'  In  the  midst  of  all, 
America,  dear  America,  is  not  forgotten.  I  begin  to 
count  the  days,  and  to  say  to  the  months,  'Fly  fast 
away,  that  I  may  spread  the  gospel-net  once  more  in 
dear  America.' " 

Be  it  here  mentioned,  that  amid  the  busy  scenes 
of  his  life,  and  while  surrounded  with  the  flatteries  of 
the  great  and  noble,  Whitefield  did  not  forget  the 
duties  he  owed  to  his  mother.  A  person  whom  he  had 
employed  to  obtain  some  comforts  for  her,  had  neg- 
lected the  duty,  so  that  the  now  aged  matron  might 


324  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD." 

have  felt  a  week's  anxiety.  He  wrote  to  her,  "  I 
should  never  forgive  myself,  was  I,  by  negligence  or 
any  wrong  conduct,  to  give  you  a  moment's  needless 
pain.  Alas,  how  little  have  I  done  for  you.  Christ's 
care  for  his  mother  excites  me  to  wish  I  could  do  any 
thing  for  you.  If  you  would  have  any  thing  more 
brought,  pray  write,  honored  mother.  *  *  *  To- 
morrow it  will  be  thirty-five  years  since  you  brought 
unworthy  me  into  the  world.  0  that  my  head  were 
waters,  and  mine  eyes  fountains  of  tears,  that  I  might 
bewail  my  barrenness  and  unfruitfulness  in  the  church 
of  God." 

While  he  was  now  fully  engaged  in  preaching,  and 
was  surrounded  with  flatteries,  he  did  not  forget  his 
duty  to  conflict  with  sin.  He  writes,  "I  find  a  love 
of  power  sometimes  intoxicates  even  God's  dear  chil- 
dren. It  is  much  easier  for  me  to  obey  than  govern. 
This  makes  me  fly  from  that  which,  at  our  first  setting 
out,  we  are  apt  to  court.  I  cannot  well  buy  humility 
at  too  dear  a  rate." 

Dr.  Philip  Doddridge,  as  every  reader  knows,  was 
one  of  the  most  pious  and  accomplished  preachers  and 
writers  of  the  Non-conformists  of  England  in  his  day. 
Nor  was  his  missionary  zeal  small  in  its  degree. 
Though  he  died  as  early  as  1751,  he  had  said,  "I  am 
now  intent  on  having  something  done  among  the  dis- 
senters, in  a  more  public  manner,  for  propagating  the 
gospel  abroad,  which  lies  near  my  heart.  I  wish  to 
live  to  see  this  design  brought  into  execution,  at  least 
into  some  forwardness,  and  then  I  should  die  the  more 
cheerfully."  It  was  indeed  the  passion  of  his  life  to 
promote  the  interests  of  evangelical  truth,  and  save 


DR.  DODDRIDGE.  325 

the  souls  of  men.  And  though,  as  his  recent  eulogist, 
the  Rev.  John  Stoughton,  has  said,  condemned  by 
some,  and  suspected  by  others  for  so  doing,  he  took  a 
deep  and  sympathetic  interest  in  the  evangelical  la- 
bors of  Whitefield.  It  seems  strange  in  our  day  to 
think  of  Whitefield  being  regarded  as  an  enthusiast 
by  orthodox  dissenters.  Yet  there  were  those  who 
did  thus  regard  him.  Bradbury  poured  on  him  streams 
of  wit;  Barker  regarded  his  sermons  as  low  and 
coarse;  and  another  in  writing  calls  him  "honest, 
crazy,  confident  Mr.  Whitefield."  But  Doddridge 
regarded  him  as  far  otherwise,  and  spoke  of  him  as 
"  a  flaming  servant  of  Christ."  He  prayed  on  one 
occasion  at  the  Tabernacle,  but  Dr.  Watts  was  much 
grieved  by  it ;  and  when,  on  Whitefield's  visiting 
Northampton,  Doddridge  gave  him  the  use  of  his 
pulpit,  the  managers  of  the  college  of  which  he  was 
president  remonstrated  with  him  for  so  doing. 

The  visit  of  Whitefield  to  Doddridge  was  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1750,  where  he  met  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sir  James 
Stonehouse,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hartley  and  Hervey. 
The  latter  eminent  clergyman  thus  writes :  "  I  have 
lately  seen  that  most  excellent  minister  of  the  ever- 
blessed  Jesus,  Mr.  Whitefield.  I  dined,  supped,  and 
spent  the  evening  with  him  at  Northampton,  in  com- 
pany with  Dr.  Doddridge,  and  two  pious,  ingenious 
clergyman  of  the  church  of  England,  both  of  them 
known  to  the  learned  world  by  their  valuable  writ- 
ings. And  surely  I  never  spent  a  more  delightful 
evening,  or  saw  one  that  seemed  to  make  nearer 
approaches  to  the  felicity  of  heaven.  A  gentleman  of 
great  worth  and"  rank  in  the  town  invited  us  to  his 


326  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

house,  and  gave  us  an  elegant  treat ;  but  bow  mean 
was  his  provision,  how  coar*se  his  delicacies,  compared 
with  the  fruit  of  my  friend's  lips :  they  dropped  as 
honey  from  the  honey-comb,  and  were  a  well  of  life. 
Surely  people  do  not  know  that  amiable  and  exem- 
plary man,  or  else,  I  cannot  but  think,  instead  of 
depreciating,  they  would  applau^  and  love  him.  For 
my  part,  I  never  beheld  so  fair  a  copy  of  our  Lord, 
such  a  living  image  of  the  Saviour,  such  exalted  de- 
light in  God,  such  enlarged  benevolence  to  man,  such 
a  steady  faith  in  the  divine  promises,  and  such  a  fer- 
vent zeal  for  the  divine  glory ;  and  all  this  without 
the  least  moroseness  of  humor,  or  extravagance  of 
behavior,  sweetened  with  the  most  engaging  cheerful- 
ness of  temper,  and  regulated  by  all  the  sobriety  of 
reason  and  wisdom  of  Scripture ;  insomuch  that  I 
cannot  forbear  applying  the  wise  man's  encomium  of 
an  illustrious  woman  to  this  eminent  minister  of  the 
everlasting  gospel :  '  Many  sons  have  done  virtuously, 
but  thou  excellest  them  all.' " 

In  the  month  of  March,  1750,  a  general  alarm  had 
been  awakened  by  earthquakes  in  London,  and  fears 
were  excited  by  pretended  prophecies  of  still  greater 
devastation.  These  signal  judgments  of  Jehovah 
were  preceded  by  great  profligacy  of  manners,  and  its 
fruitful  parent,  licentiousness  of  principle.  Dr.  Home, 
afterwards  dean  of  Canterbury  and  bishop  of  Bristol, 
in  a  sermon  preached  at  the  time,  says,  "  As  to  faith, 
is  not  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  and  that  of  the  divin- 
ity of  our  Lord  and  Saviour — without  which  our  re- 
•  demption  is  absolutely  void,  and  we  are  yet  in  our 
sins,  lying  under  the  intolerable  burden  of  the  wrath 


EARTHQUAKE  IN  LONDON.  327 

of  God — blasphemed  and  ridiculed  openly  in  conver- 
sation and  in  print  ?  And  as  to  righteousness  of  life, 
are  not  the  people  of  this  land  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins?  Idleness,  drunkenness,  luxury,  extravagance, 
and  debauchery  ;  for  these  things  cometh  the  wrath 
of  God,  and  disordered  nature  proclaims  the  impend- 
ing distress  and  perplexity  of  nations.  And  Oh,  may 
we  of  this  nation  never  read  a  handwriting  upon  the 
wall  of  heaven,  in  illuminated  capitals  of  the  Almigh- 
ty, MENE,  MENE,  TEKEL,  UPHARSIN — God  hath  num- 
bered the  kingdom,  and  finished  it.  Thou  art  weigh- 
ed in  the  balances  of  heaven,  and  found  wanting  the 
merits  of  a  rejected  Redeemer,  and  therefore  the  king- 
dom is  divided  and  given  away." 

The  shocks  felt  in  London  in  February  and  March 
of  this  year,  were  far  more  violent  than  any  remem- 
bered for  a  long  series  of  years.  The  earth  moved 
throughout  the  whole  cities  of  London  and  West- 
minster. It  was  a  strong  and  jarring  motion,  attend- 
ed with  a  rumbling  noise  like  that  of  thunder.  Multi- 
tudes of  persons  of  every  class  fled  from  these  cities 
with  the  utmost  haste,  and  others  repaired  to  the 
fields  and  open  places  in  the  neighborhood.  Tower- 
hill,  Moorfields,  and  Hyde  Park  were  crowded  with 
men,  women,  and  children,  who  remained  a  whole 
night  under  the  most  fearful  apprehensions.  Places 
of  worship  were  filled  with  persons  in  the  utmost 
state  of  alarm.  Especially  was  this  the  case  with 
those  attached  to  Methodist  congregations,  where 
multitudes  came  all  night,  knocking  at  the  doors,  and 
for  God's  sake  begging  admittance.  As  convulsions 
of  nature  are  usually  regarded  by  enthusiasts  and 


328  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

fanatics  as  the  sure  harbinger  of  its  dissolution,  a 
soldier  "  had  a  revelation,"  that  a  great  part  of  Lon- 
don and  Westminster  would  be  destroyed  by  an  earth- 
quake on  a  certain  night,  between  the  hours  of  twelve 
and  one  o'clock.  Believing  his  assertion,  thousands 
fled  from  the  city  for  fear  of  being  suddenly  over- 
whelmed, and  repaired  to  the  fields,  where  they  con- 
tinued all  night,  in  momentary  expectation  of  seeing 
the  prophecy  fulfilled  ;  while  thousands  of  others  ran 
about  the  streets  in  the  most  wild  and  frantic  state 
of  consternation,  apparently  quite  certain  that  the 
day  of  judgment  was  about  to  commence.  The  whole 
scene  was  truly  awful. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  ministers  of  Christ 
preached  almost  incessantly,  and  many  were  awakened 
to  a  sense  of  their  awful  condition  before  God,  and  to 
rest  their  hopes  of  eternal  salvation  on  the  Rock  of 
ages.  Mr.  Whitefield,  animated  with  that  burning 
charity  which  shone  so  conspicuously  in  him,  ventured 
out  at  midnight  to  Hyde  Park,  where  he  proclaimed 
to  the  affrighted  and  astonished  multitudes  that  there 
is  a  Saviour,  Christ  the  Lord.  The  darkness  of  the 
night,  and  the  awful  apprehensions  of  an  approaching 
earthquake,  added  much  to  the  solemnity  of  the  scene. 
The  sermon  was  truly  sublime,  and  to  the  ungodly 
sinner,  the  self-righteous  pharisee,  and  the  artful  hyp- 
ocrite, strikingly  terrific.  With  a  pathos  which  show- 
ed the  fervor  of  his  soul,  and  with  a  grand  majestic 
voice  that  commanded  attention,  he  took  occasion  from 
the  circumstances  of  the  assembly,  to  call  their  atten- 
tion to  that  most  important  event  in  which  every  one 
will  be  interested,  the  final  consummation  of  all  things, 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  329 

the  universal  wreck  of  nature,  the  dissolution  of  earth, 
and  the  eternal  sentence  of  every  son  and  daughter  of 
Adam.  The  whole  scene  was  one  of  a  most  memora- 
ble character.  Mr.  Charles  Wesley,  Mr.  Romaine, 
and  others  preached  in  a  similar  manner,  and  with 
like  happy  results. 

At  this  period,  Whitefield  and  his  female  friends 
especially,  were  the  subjects  of  royal  attention  at  the 
court  of  George  the  Second.  It  is  said  that  on  one 
occasion  Lady  Chesterfield  appeared  in  a  dress  "with 
a  brown  ground  and  silver  flowers,"  of  foreign  manu- 
facture. The  king,  smiling  significantly,  said  to  her 
aloud,  "  I  know  who  chose  that  gown  for  you — Mr. 
Whitefield ;  I  hear  you  have  attended  on  Jrim  for  a 
year  and  a  half."  Her  ladyship  acknowledged  she 
had  done  so,  and  professed  her  approbation  of  his 
character  and  ministry ;  and  afterwards  deeply  re- 
gretted that  she  had  not  said  more  when  she  had  so 
good  an  opportunity.  Whitefield  had  occasion  to 
wait  on  the  secretary  of  state,  in  company  with  Dr. 
Gifford,  a  Baptist  pastor  in  London,  to  ask  relief  for 
some  persecuted  Christians  in  Ireland,  and  was  assured 
that  "no  hurt  was  designed  by  the  state  to  the  Meth- 
odists." He  also  renewed  his  friendship  with  the 
Messrs.  Wesley,  and  several  times  exchanged  pulpits 
with  them.  He  writes,  "  I  have  now  preached  thrice 
in  Mr.  Wesley's  chapel,  and  God  was  with  us  of  a 
truth." 

Again  was  our  evangelist  tired  of  London,  and 
again  had  he  grown  sick  for  want  of  field-preaching. 
Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Bristol  and  other  parts  of 
the  west  of  England ;  and  although  rain  and  hail  pelt- 


330  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ed  him  in  his  field-pulpits,  he  preached  "  about  twenty 
times  in  eight  or  nine  days."  As  soon  as  he  found 
himself  in  his  own  element,  he  saw  every  thing  in  his 
old.  lights.  He  says,  "  Every  thing  I  meet  with  seems 
to  carry  this  voice  with  it :  '  Go  thou  and  preach  the 
gospel ;  be  a  pilgrim  on  earth ;  have  no  party,  or 
certain  dwelling-place.'  My  heart  echoes  back, '  Lord 
Jesus,  help  me  to  do  or  suffer  thy  will.  When  thou 
seest  me  in  danger  of  nestling,  in  pity,  in  tender  pity 
put  a  thorn  in  my  nest,  to  prevent  me  from  it." 

From  Bristol,  Whitefield  went  to  Taunton,  where 
he  met  with  the  Rev.  Richard  Pearsall,  an  eminent 
and  excellent  Presbyterian  minister,  of  whom  he 
speaks  very  highly ;  and  from  thence,  on  his  way  to 
Plymouth,  he  stayed  at  Wellington,  to  preach  for  the 
Rev.  Risdon  Darracott,  who  has  ever  since  been  distin- 
guished as  "  the  star  in  the  west."  Mr.  Darracott  was 
the  son  of  a  dissenting  minister  in  Dorsetshire,  where 
he  was  born  in  1717,  when  Whitefield  was  three  years 
old.  -He  studied  for  the  ministry  under  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Doddridge,  at  Northampton,  and  entered  on  his  min- 
isterial course  in  Cornwall  in  1738,  which  situation 
he  was  most  reluctantly  compelled  to  leave  two  years 
afterwards  from  violent  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs. 
Under  this  alarming  visitation  he  spent  about  six 
months  with  his  friends  in  Devonshire,  where  his  fer- 
vent-minded father  had  preached  till  his  death  at  the 
age  of  forty.  While  here,  he  had  a  call  to  succeed  a 
venerable  minister  at  Wellington,  who  had  recently 
deceased.  He  found  the  congregation  small,  and  the 
number  of  communicants  but  twenty-eight.  His  min- 
istry soon  drew  a  large  congregation,  many  of  whom 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  331 

had  never  before  made  a  profession  of  religion.,  and 
were  first  attracted  into  the  town  from  the  neighbor- 
ing villages  out  of  mere  curiosity  to  hear  him.  The 
house  of  worship  was  soon  insufficient  to  contain  his 
hearers.;  and  even  when  it  was  enlarged,  many  were 
frequently  compelled  to  stand  out  of  doors,  unable  to 
obtain  an  entrance.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Fawcett,  who 
preached  his  funeral  sermon,  said,  "  I  never,  knew  any 
congregation  which  appeared  to  have  so  many  in- 
stances of  abiding  religious  impressions ;"  and  added, 
"  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  his  ministry  was 
owned  to  the  effectual  conversion  of  many  hundreds 
of  souls." 

The  night  before  the  death  of  this  excellent  man, 
which  took  place  in  his  forty-second  year,  he  exclaim- 
ed, "  Oh,  what  a  good  God  have  I,  in  and  through 
Jesus  Christ.  I  would  praise  him,  but  my  lips  can- 
not. Eternity  will  be  too  short  to  speak  his  praises." 
The  physician  coming  in,  he  said  to  him,  "  Oh,  what  a 
mercy  is  it  to  be  interested  in  the  atoning  blood  of 
Jesus.  I  come  to  the  Lord  as  a  vile  sinner,  trust- 
ing in  the  merits  and  precious  blood  of  my  dear  Re- 
deemer. 0  grace,  grace,  free  grace !"  His  last  words 
were,  "  I  am  going  from  weeping  friends  to  congratu- 
lating angels,  and  rejoicing  saints  in  glory.  He  is 
coming.  Oh,  speed  thy  chariot  wheels ;  why  are  they 
so  long  in  coming  ?  I  long  to  be  gone !"  He  left  in 
his  church  more  than  two  hundred  communicants. 

Whitefield  and  Darracott  were  congenial  spirits, 
and  Darracott,  like  his  friend,  had  suffered  much  re- 
proach in  the  cause  of  his  Master ;  he  was  what 
Whitefield  called  him,  "a  flaming  and  successful 


332  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

preacher  of  the  gospel."  He  had  just  at  this  time 
lost  three  lovely  children.  "Two  of  them,"  says 
Whitefield,.  "  had  died  on  the  Saturday  evening  be- 
fore the  sacrament;  but  weeping  did  not  prevent 
sowing.  He  preached  the  next  day,  and  administered 
as  usual.  Our  Lord  strengthened  him ;  and  for  his 
three  natural,  gave  him  above  thirty  spiritual  chil- 
dren ;  and.  he  is  likely  to  have  many  more.  He  has 
ventured  his  little  all  for  Christ ;  and  last  week  a 
saint  died  who  left  him  and  his  heirs  two  hundred 
pounds  in  land.  Did  ever  any  one  trust  in  God,  and 
was  forsaken?"  This  interview  with  Darracott,  and 
with  good  old  Mr.  Pearsall,  who  had  been  a  preacher 
of  righteousness  before  Whitefield  was  born,  had  an 
inspiring  influence  upon  him.  He  says,  "  I  began  to 
take  the  field  again  at  his  dwelling  for  the  spring ! 
I  begin  to  begin  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  Him  who 
shed  his  own  dear  heart's  blood  for  me.  He  makes 
ranging  exceedingly  pleasant." 

Soon  after  this,  Whitefield  went  again  into  York- 
shire. At  Rotherham  he  says,  "Satan  rallied  his 
forces.  The  crier  was  employed  to  give  notice  of  a 
bear-baiting.  You  may  guess  who  was  the  bear ! 
However,  I  preached  twice.  The  drum  was  heard, 
and  several  watermen  attended  with  great  staves. 
The  constable  was  struck,  and  two  of  the  mobbers 
apprehended,  but  rescued  afterwards."  Sheffield  and 
Leeds  he  found  to  be  a  new  and  warmer  climate. 
Lancashire,  however,  was  still  but  cold  to  him.  All 
was  quiet  at  Manchester,  and  he  "  humbly  hoped  some 
had  enlisted,"  but  no  great  impression  was  then  made. 
At  Bolton,  a  drunkard  stood  up  behind  him  to  preach ; 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  333 

and  the  wife  of  the  man  who  lent  him  the  field,  twice 
attempted  to  stab  the  workman  who  put  up  the  stand 
for  him.  This  roused  him,  and  he  bore  down  all  op- 
position by  a  torrent  of  eloquence,  which  quite  ex- 
hausted him.  In  the  night,  however,  some  rude  fel- 
lows got  into  the  barn  and  stables  where  his  chaise 
and  horses  had  been  put,  and  cut  them  very  shame- 
fully. This  conduct  he  called,  "Satan  showing  his 
teeth." 

To  narrate  the  particulars  of  this  journey  would 
be  little  more  than  a  repetition  of  scenes  of  insult  and 
of  success  with  which  the  reader  has  already  become 
familiar.  At  Ulverston  he  says,  "  Satan  made  some 
small  resistance.  A  clergyman,  who  looked  more  like 
a  butcher  than  a  minister,  came  with  two  others,  and 
charged  a  constable  with  me ;  but  I  never  saw  a  poor 
creature  sent  off  with  such  disgrace." 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  conversions  recorded 
in  the  history  of  the  church  occurred  during  this  jour- 
ney by  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Whitefield.  The  full  par- 
ticulars are  recorded  in  the  Life  of  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,  and  can  only  be  briefly  mentioned  here. 

In  the  early  period  of  Whitefield's  ministry,  many 
of  the  taverns  became  places  where  his  doctrines  and 
zeal  were  talked  of  and  ridiculed.  A  Mr.  Thorpe, 
and  several  other  young  men  in  Yorkshire,  undertook 
at  one  of  these  parties  to  mimic  the  preaching  of  Mr. 
Whitefield.  The  proposition  met  with  applause ;  one 
after  another  stood  on  a  table  to  perform  his  part, 
and  it  devolved  on  Mr.  Thorpe  to  close  this  irrever- 
ent scene.  Much  elated,  and  confident  of  success,  he 
exclaimed,  as  he  ascended  the  table,  "  I  shall  beat  you 


334  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

all."  Who  would  hare  supposed  that  the  mercy  of 
God  was  now  about  to  be  extended  to  this  transgres- 
sor of  his  law  ?  The  Bible  was  handed  to  him ;  and 
by  the  guidance  of  unerring  Providence,  it  opened  at 
Luke  13  :  3  :  "  Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish."  The.  moment  he  read  the  text  his  mind  was 
impressed  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner ;  he  saw 
clearly  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  subject ;  and 
as  he  afterwards  said,  if  he  ever  preached  with  the 
assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  it  was  at  that  time.  His 
address  produced  a  feeling  of  depression  in  his  audi- 
tors ;  and  when  he  had  finished,  he  instantly  retired 
to  weep  over  his  sins.  He  soon  after  became  asso- 
ciated with  the  people  of  God,  and  died  a  successful 
minister  of  Christ,  at  Masborough,  in  Yorkshire,  in 
1776,  about  six  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  White- 
field.  He  was  the  father  of  the  distinguished  Eev. 
William  Thorpe,  of  Bristol. 

Passing  on  to  Edinburgh,  Whitefield  was,  as  usual, 
received  with  the  most  unfeigned  tenderness  and  joy, 
preaching  to  great  multitudes  of  attentive  and  serious 
people,  whose  earnest  desire  to  hear  him  made  him 
exert  himself  beyond  his  strength.  He  says,  "  By 
preaching  always  twice,  once  thrice,  and  once  four 
times  in  a  day,  I  am  quite  weakened  ;  but  I"  hope  to 
recruit  again.  Christ's  presence  makes  me  smile  at 
pain."  He  returned  to  London,  having  preached 
about  one  hundred  times,  it  was  believed  to  not  less 
than  one  hundred  thousand  people. 

Among  the  occasional  hearers  of  Whitefield  when 
in  Scotland,  was  the  celebrated  infidel  historian,  Da- 
vid Hume.  An  intimate  friend  having  asked  him 


IN  IRELAND.  335 

what  he  thought  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching,  he 
replied,  "He  is,  sir,  the  most  ingenious  preacher  I 
ever  heard ;  it  is  worth  while  to  go  twenty  miles  to 
hear  him."  He  then  repeated  the  following  passage, 
which  occurred  towards  the  close  of  the  discourse  he 
had  been  hearing.  "  After  a  solemn  pause,  Mr.  White- 
field  thus  addressed  his  numerous  audience  :  '  The  at- 
tendant angel  is  just  about  to  leave  the  threshold,  and 
ascend  to  heaven.  And  shall  he  ascend,  and  not  bear 
with  him  the  news  of  one  sinner,  among  all  this  mul- 
titude, reclaimed  from  the  error  of  his  ways?'  To 
give  the  greater  effect  to  this  exclamation,  he  stamped 
with  his  foot,  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  hands  to  heaven, 
and  with  gushing  tears  cried  aloud,  '  Stop,  Gabriel ! 
stop,  Gabriel!  stop,  ere  you  enter  the  sacred  portals, 
and  yet  carry  with  you  the  news  of  one  sinner  con- 
verted to  God.'  He  then,  in  the  most  simple  but  en- 
ergetic language,  described  what  he  called  a  Saviour's 
dying  love  to  sinful  man,  so  that  almost  the  whole  as- 
sembly melted  into  tears.  This  address  was  accom- 
panied with  such  animated,  yet  natural  action,  that  it 
surpassed  any  thing  I  ever  saw  or  heard  in  any  other 
preacher." 

In  the  summer  of  1751,  Whitefield  paid  a  second 
visit  to  Ireland,  and  was  most  hospitably  received  in 
Dublin  by  a  respectable  and  opulent  gentleman  named 
Lunell,  who  had  been  brought  to  Christ  by  the  first 
Methodist  itinerant  preacher  in  that  city.  During 
this  excursion,  Whitefield  preached  about  eighty  ser- 
mons, fourteen  of  them  in  Dublin,  and  seven  in  Limer- 
ick. His  hearers  in  Dublin  organized  themselves  into 
a  public  society,  which  does  not  seem  to  have  met  his 


336  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

approbation.  He  says,  "This  morning  I  have  been 
talking  with  dear  Mr.  Adams,  and  can  not  help  think- 
ing that  you  have  run  before  the  Lord,  in  forming 
yourselves  into  a  public  society  as  you  have  done.  I 
am  sincere  when  I  profess  that  I  do  not  choose  to  set 
myself  at  the  head  of  any  party.  When  I  came  to  Ire- 
land, my  intention  was  to  preach  the  gospel  to  all ; 
and  if  it  should  ever  please  the  Lord  of  all  lords  to 
send  me  thither  again,  I  purpose  to  pursue  the  same 
plan.  For  I  am  a  debtor  to  all  of  every  denomination, 
and  have  no  design,  if  I  know  any  thing  of  this  despe- 
rately wicked  and  deceitful  heart,  but  to  promote  the 
common  salvation  of  mankind.  The  love  of  Christ 
constrains  me  to  this." 

During  this  visit,  Whitefield  a  few  times  ventured 
out  of  the  city  to  Oxmantown-green,  then  a  large  open 
place,  situated  near  the  royal  barracks,  where  the  Or- 
mond  and  Liberty  boys,  two  factions  among  the  low- 
est class  of  the  people,  generally  assembled  on  the 
Sabbath  to  fight  with  each  other.  The  congregations 
at  first  were  very  numerous,  and  deeply  affected,  nor 
did  any  disturbance  occur.  Thus  encouraged,  the 
preacher  ventured  again,  and  gave  notice  of  his  inten- 
tion to  resume  his  labors.  He  went  through  the  bar- 
racks, the  door  of  which  opened  into  the  green,  and 
pitched  his  tent  near  the  barrack  walls,  not  doubting 
of  the  protection,  or  at  least  of  the  interposition  of 
the  officers  and  soldiers,  if  there  should  be  occasion 
for  it.  The  multitude  in  attendance  was  indeed  vast. 
After  singing  and  prayer,  "Whitefield  preached  without 
molestation,  except  that  now  and  then  a  few  stones 
and  clods  of  dirt  were  thrown  at  him.  It  being  war- 


IN  IRELAND.  33t 

time,  he  took  occasion  to  exhort  his  hearers,  as  was 
his  usual  practice,  not  only  to  fear  God,  but  to  honor 
the  king ;  and  prayed  for  the  success  of  the  king  of 
Prussia.  When  the  service  was  over,  he  thought  to 
return  home  by  the  way  he  came,  but,  to  his  great  sur- 
prise, a  passage  through  the  barracks  was  denied ; 
and  he  was  compelled  to  pass  from  one  end  of  the 
green  to  the  other,  through  thousands  of  Roman-cath- 
olics. He  was  unattended ;  for  a  soldier  and  four 
preachers  who  came  with  him  had  fled  from  the  scene 
of  danger,  and  he  was  seriously  attacked  by  the  mob. 
They  threw  vollies  of  stones  upon  him  from  all  quar- 
ters, and  he  reeled  backwards  and  forwards  till  he 
was  almost  breathless  and  covered  with  blood.  At 
length,  with  great  difficulty  he  staggered  to  the  door 
of  a  minister's  house  near  the  green,  which  was  kind- 
ly opened  to  him.  For  a  while  he  continued  speech- 
less, and  panting  for  breath  ;  but  his  weeping  friends 
having  given  him  a  cordial,  and  washed  his  wounds, 
a  coach  was  procured,  in  which,  amidst  the  oaths,  im- 
precations, and  threatenings  of  the  rabble,  he  got  safe 
home,  and  united  in  a  hymn  of  thanksgiving  with  his 
friends.  In  a  letter  written  to  a  friend  soon  after  this 
event,  he  says,  "  I  received  many  blows  and  wounds ; 
one  was  particularly  large,  and  near  my  temple:  I 
thought  of  Stephen,  and  was  in  hopes,  like  him,  to  go 
off  in  this  bloody  triumph  to  the  immediate  presence 
of  my  Master." 

Unpromising,  however,  as  things  were  in  Ireland, 
the  labors  of  Whitefield,  followed  as  they  were  by. 
those  of  the  Wesleys,  became  the  foundation  of  a  num- 
ber of  Christian  societies  that  proved  vast  blessings 

Whitcfidd  15 


338  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

to  Ireland  ;  and  some  of  them  grew  into  large  church- 
es, which  continue  to  flourish  till  this  day. 

The  society  to  which  reference  has  been  made, 
which  assembled  in  Skinner's  alley,  secured  ministerial 
aid  from  the  late  Rev.  John  Edwards,  who  was  one  of 
"Whitefield's  converts,  and  among  the  earliest  preachers 
at  the  Tabernacle  in  London ;  and  who  also  itinerated 
over  nearly  the  whole  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ire- 
land. The  period  was  one  of  great  persecution,  and 
this  good  man  had  several  remarkable  preservations 
from  death.  At  one  time,  while  he  resided  in  Dublin, 
he  was  returning  from  preaching  at  a  village,  when  he 
was  seized  by  a  party  of  rude  fellows,  who  declared 
they  would  throw  him  over  the  bridge  into  the  Liffey. 
This  was  observed  by  an  opposite  political  party,  resid- 
ing on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  who  encountered  his 
assailants,  and  rescued  him  out  of  their  hands,  saying 
he  lived  on  their  side  the  river,  and  none  should  hurt 
him.  At  another  time,  having  preached  out  of  doors, 
a  furious  mob  of  the  White-boys,  a  political  party  so 
called,  beset  the  house  in  which  he  was,  and  threat- 
ened to  burn  it  to  the  ground,  unless  he  was  driven 
out  of  it.  His  anxious  friends  could  see  but  one  way 
for  his  escape,  which  was  through  a  window  that  open- 
ed into  a  garden  belonging  to  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
who  was  himself  a  violent  persecutor  of  the  Method- 
ists. Through  this  window  Mr.  Edwards  was,  like 
the  apostle  Paul,  let  down  in  a  basket.  Here  he  stood 
some  time  in  great  consternation,  fearing  the  family 
might  observe  him,  and  charge  him  with  breaking  into 
the  garden  for  improper  purposes,  and  so  both  religion 
and  himself  would  be  injured.  At  length  he  ventured 


IN  IRELAND.  339 

to  knock  at  the  door,  and  asked  for  the  magistrate,  to 
whom  he  ingenuously  stated  the  facts,  and  who  most 
generously  protected  and  extended  to  him  the  hospi- 
talities of  his  house  for  two  days. 

One  fact  more  must  be  told  of  this  excellent  man. 
He  resolved  to  visit  a  town  to  which  had  removed  a 
number  of  soldiers  who  had  received  benefit  from  his 
ministry.  He  was  met,  however,  by  some  'of  these 
pious  men,  who  told  him  that  the  inhabitants  were 
determined  to  take  his  life.  Edwards  was  not  to  be 
dissuaded  from  his  purpose;  and  on  his  arrival  he 
immediately  preached  in  the  street,  and  several  dis- 
tinguished persons,  including  the  mayor  of  the  town, 
came  to  hear  him,  and  by  their  influence  prevented  dis- 
turbance. After  the  service,  the  mayor  invited  him 
to  breakfast  with  several  of  the  principal  inhabitants, 
and  told  him  they  were  very  glad  he  was  come — that 
the  people  were  extremely  dissolute  in  their  manners, 
and  the  clergy,  both  Protestants  and  Catholics,  ex- 
ceedingly remiss  in  their  duty,  and  they  hoped  the 
Methodists  would  succeed  in  reforming  the  town. 
These  gentlemen  subscribed  to  the  support  of  stated 
preaching,  and  extensive  and  lasting  good  was  done. 

Amid  Whitefield's  innumerable  engagements  and 
declining  health,  Bethesda  and  his  beloved  America 
could  not  be  forgotten.  While  he  was  at  Glasgow 
during  this  summer  of  1751,  he  was  greatly  delighted 
to  hear  that  Mr.  Dinwiddie,  brother-in-law  to  the  Eev. 
Mr.  M'Culloch,  of  Cambuslang,  was  appointed  gover- 
nor of  Virginia.  The  gospel  had  been  much  opposed 
there,  and  he  thought  the  appointment  now  made 
would  greatly  tend  to  check  persecution. 


340  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Whitefield,  as  it  appears  to  us,  now  very  suddenly 
determined  on  another  voyage  to  America.  He  ar- 
rived in  London  from  Edinburgh  in  the  early  part  of 
August,  with  improved  health,  the  country  air  having 
healed  his  hemorrhage.  He  took  a  hasty  leave  of  his 
friends,  and  set  sail  for  Georgia,  in  the  Antelope, 
Captain  M'Lellan,  taking  several  orphans  with  him. 
He  arrived  at  Savannah  Oct.  27,  and  had  the  happi- 
ness of  finding  the  orphan-house  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. Here,  however,  he  did  not  stay  long  ;  as  in 
November  we  hear  of  him  in  his  usual  labors,  and 
with  his  usual  ardor  engaged  in  his  constant  work  of 
preaching.  Having  formerly  suffered  much  from  the 
climate  of  America  in  the  summer,  he  determined 
again  to  embark  for  London,  which  he  did  in  April. 
We  can  scarcely  trace  his  object  in  this  journey  to 
and  from  America,  except  in  some  designs  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  place  Georgia  on  a  new  footing. 

In  June,  1752,  Mr.  Whitefield  was  found  in  the 
society  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  at  Bath,  where 
he  continued  about  three  weeks,  preaching  every  even- 
ing to  great  numbers  of  the  nobility.  Here  he  became 
acquainted  with  Mrs.  Grinfield,  a  lady  who  attended 
on  the  person  of  Queen  Caroline.  "  One  of  Cesar's 
household,"  he  writes,  "hath  been  lately  awakened, 
through  her  ladyship's  instrumentality,  and  I  hope 
others  will  meet  with  the  like  blessing."  He  after- 
wards visited  her  at  the  palace  of  St.  James,  and  says, 
"  The  court,  I  believe,  rings  of  her,  and  if  she  stands, 
I  trust  she  will  make  a  glorious  martyr  for  her  bless- 
ed Lord." 

The  Moravians,  or  United  Brethren,  were  at  one 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  341 

period  on  terms  of  very  cordial  friendship  with  the 
Messrs.  Wesley  and  Whitefield.  At  the  time  of  which 
we  are  writing,  a  series  of  strange  absurdities,  resem- 
bling the  adoration  of  saints  and  other  superstitions 
of  popery,  developed  themselves  among  members  of 
that  body,  at  the  head  of  which  then  stood  Count 
Zinzendorf,  to  whom  Whitefield  wrote  an  urgent 
remonstrance  on  the  subject.  An  open  separation 
took  place,  and  Mrs.  Grinfield,  the  Rev.  John  Gen- 
nick,  and  some  others,  adhered  to  the  count,  while 
Whitefield  and  Lady  Huntingdon  endeavored  to  bring 
him  back  to  what  they  believed  the  simplicity  of  the 
gospel.  Lady  Huntingdon,  speaking  of  her  final 
interview  with  him,  says,  "  Our  conference  was  long, 
and  as  the  count  honored  me  with  his  company  for  a 
few  days,  was  resumed  at  intervals,  always  closing 
with  a  solemn  scriptural  prayer  to  our  great  and  glo- 
rious Head,  for  the  illuminating  influences  of  his  Spirit 
to  guide  us  into  all  truth.  We  parted  with  the  utmost 
cordiality." 

"Dear  Mr.  Whitefield's  letter,"  says  Lady  Hun- 
tingdon, "has  much  grieved  the  count.  But  his  re- 
monstrance is  faithful,  and  the  awful  exposures  he  has 
reluctantly  been  forced  to  make,  may  be  productive  of 
the  highest  good  in  opening  the  eyes  of  many  to  the 
miserable  delusions  under  which  they  lie." 

A  correspondence,  indeed  we  may  say  friendship, 
2  had  for  years  existed  between  Whitefield  and  the 
eminent  philosopher  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin.  The 
following,  from  a  letter  of  Whitefield,  August  17, 
1752,  shows  his  fidelity  to  the  eminent  citizen  and 
statesman :  "  I  find  you  grow  more  and  more  famous 


342  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

in  the  learned  world.  As  you  have  made  a  pretty 
considerable  progress  in  the  mysteries  of  electricity, 
I  would  now  humbly  recommend  to  your  diligent, 
unprejudiced  pursuit  and  study,  the  mystery  of  the 
new  birth.  It  is  a  most  important,  interesting  study, 
and  when  mastered,  will  richly  answer  and  repay  you 
for  all  your  pains.  One,  at  whose  bar  we  are  shortly 
to  appear,  hath  solemnly  declared  that,  without  it,  we 
cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  You  will 
excuse  this  freedom.  I  must  have  cdiquid  Christi — 
something  of  Christ,  in  aH  my  letters."  This  honest 
letter  ought  to  have  delighted  the  philosopher  in  his 
closet,  even  more  than  the  eulogium  he  heard  while 
standing  behind  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Lords,  when 
Earl  Chatham  said  of  him,  "Franklin  is  one  whom 
Europe  holds  in  high  estimation  for  his  knowledge 
and  wisdom  ;  one  who  is  an  honor,  not  to  the  English 
nation  only,  but  to  human  nature." 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1752,  and  the  fol- 
lowing one,  Whitefield  visited  Scotland  twice,  and 
preached  much  also  throughout  England  and  "Wales. 
As  usual,  he  greatly  rejoiced  in  the  presence  and  ser- 
vice of  God,  and  never  appears  to  have  been  more 
happy  than  in  this  period  of  his  life.  "  Since  I  left 
Newcastle,"  he  writes,  "I  have  scarcely  known  some- 
times whether  I  have  been  in  heaven  or  on  earth. 
Thousands  and  thousands  flock  twice  or  thrice  a  day 
to  hear  the  word  of  life.  God  favors  us  with  weather, 
and  I  would  fain  make  hay  while  the  sun  shines.  Oh 
that  I  had' as  many  tongues  as  there  are  hairs  in  my 
head.  The  ever-loving,  ever-lovely  Jesus  should  have 
them  all.  Fain  would  I  die  preaching." 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  343 

About  this  period  also,  Mr.  Hervey  and  he  were 
employed  in  revising  each  other's  manuscripts ;  the 
former  was  then  preparing  his  "  Theron  and  Aspasio," 
a  work  which,  though  florid  in  its  style,  has  been 
eminently  useful  in  conducting  many  of  its  readers  to 
a  saving  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel. 
Of  his  friend's  writings  Mr.  Whitefield  says,  "  For  me 
to  play  the  critic  on  them,  would  be  like  holding  up 
a  candle  to  the  sun.  However,  I  will  just  mark  a  few 
places,  as  you  desire.  I  foretell  their  fate;  nothing 
but  your  scenery  can  screen  you.  Self  will  never  bear 
to  die,  though  slain  in  so  genteel  a  manner,  without 
showing  some  resentment  against  its  artful  murder- 
er. ...  I  thank  you  a  thousand  times  for  the  trouble 
you  have  been  at  in  revising  my  poor  compositions, 
which  I  am  afraid  you  have  not  treated  with  a  becom- 
ing severity.  How  many  pardons  shall  I  ask  for 
mangling,  and,  I  fear,  murdering  your  'Theron  and 
Aspasio  ?'  If  you  think  my  two  sermons  will  do  for 
the  public,  pray  return  them  immediately.  I  have 
nothing  to  comfort  me  but  this,  that  the  Lord  chooses 
the  weak  things  of  this  world  to  confound  the  strong, 
and  things  that  are  not,  to  bring  to  naught  things  that 
are.  I  write  for  the  poor;  you  for  the  polite  and 
noble.  God  will  assuredly  own  and  bless  what  you 
write." 

Whitefield  was  now  also  very  busy  in  erecting  his 
second  London  Tabernacle,  which  he  dedicated,  June 
10,  1753.  We  have,  for  the  sake  of  completing  the 
narrative  of  its  first  building,  already  given  in  our 
third  chapter  a  statement  of  the  second  tabernacle,  to 
which  the  reader  is  referred. 


844  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Both  the  judgment  and  inclination  of  Mr.  White- 
field  concurred  to  induce  him  to  persevere  in  his  itin- 
erant course,  correctly  judging  that  in  this  way  he  best 
employed  his  peculiar  talents.  After  preaching,  there- 
fore, with  his  usual  fervor  and  success  for  a  short  time 
in  his  newly  erected  Tabernacle,  he  again  set  out  tow- 
ards Scotland,  where  he  spent  some  days  at  Edin- 
burgh and  Glasgow,  and  preached  generally  twice, 
sometimes  three  times  a  day,  and  once  five  times.  He 
says,  "Attention  sat  upon  all  faces,  and  friends  came 
round  like  bees,  importuning  me  to  stay  another  week." 
This  he  found  too  much  for  his  strength,  but  still  went 
forward,  often  expressing  his  desire  to  serve  his  divine 
Master  to  the  utmost  limit  of  his  power,  and  his  hopes 
to  be  with  him  soon  in  heaven.  During  this  journey, 
including  his  return  to  London,  where  he  arrived  the 
latter  end  of  September,  he  travelled  about  twelve 
hundred  miles,  and  preached  one  hundred  and  eighty 
times,  to  many  thousands  of  hearers. 

As  converts  increased  in  Bristol  and  its  neighbor- 
hood, Mr.  Whitefield  felt  compelled  to  erect  there 
also  a  "tabernacle."  Lady  Huntingdon  was  one  of 
the  earliest  contributors  to  this  important  object,  and 
through  her  influence  Lord  Chesterfield  gave  twenty 
pounds  to  it.  He  had  no  taste  for  religion,  but  he 
well  understood  oratory,  and  in  his  letter  to  Lady 
Huntingdon  covering  his  remittance,  he  said,  "Mr. 
Whitefield's  eloquence  is  unrivalled,  his  zeal  inex- 
haustible." The  Earl  of  Bath  sent  fifty  pounds,  say- 
ing, "  Mocked  and  reviled  as  Mr.  Whitefield  is  by  all 
ranks  of  society,  still,  I  contend  that  the  day  will 
come  when  England  will  be  just,  and  own  his  great- 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  345 

ness  as  a  Teformer,  and  his  goodness  as  a  minister  of 
the  most  high  God." 

The  Tabernacle  at  Bristol  was  dedicated  Novem- 
ber 25,  1753,  with  a  sermon  from  "Whitefield.  Its 
history  is  one  of  deep  interest.  Its  early  ministers 
were  worthy  of  any  age,  but  remarkably  fitted  for  that 
in  which  their  lot  was  cast ;  men  of  pith  and  power, 
undismayed  at  dangers,  braving  all  kinds  of  difficulty 
and  toil,  and  prepared  equally  for  labor  and  suffer- 
ings in  the  cause  of  their  great  Master.  Nor  have 
later  ministers  dishonored  their  predecessors ;  the 
cause  still  flourishes,  and  the  hallowed  house  has  been 
the  birthplace  of  many  eminent  Christians.  What 
Whitefield  then  said  of  this  house  might  often  be  said 
of  it  now :  "  It  is  large,  but  not  half  large  enough ;  for 
if  the  place  could  contain  them,  nearly  as  many  would 
attend  as  in  London."  He  always  delighted  in  his 
visits  to  this  place,  and  laid  here  a  foundation  for  vast 
benefits,  even  to  the  present  day.  On  one  of  his  vis- 
its to  preach  here,  he  began  a  series  of  sermons  on  the 
evening  before  the  commencement  of  the  fair.  His 
text  was,  "  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to 
the  waters ;  and  he  that  hath  no  money,  come  ye, 
buy  and  eat ;  yea,  come  buy  wine  and  milk  without 
money,  and  without  price."  Isa.  55  : 1.  The  congre- 
gation was  large,  and  thus  he  began :  "  My  dear  hear- 
ers, I  fear  that  many  of  you  are  come  to  attend  Bris- 
tol fair.  So  am  I.  You  do  not  mean  to  show  your 
goods  until  to-morrow ;  but  I  shall  exhibit  mine  to- 
night. You  are  afraid  purchasers  will  not  come  up 
to  your  price ;  but  I  am  afraid  my  buyers  will  not 
come  down  to  mine ;  for  mine,"  striking  his  hand 
15* 


346  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

on   the   Bible,   "are  'without   money,   and  without 
price.'" 

After  the  dedication  of  this  Bristol  Tabernacle, 
Whitefield  preached  in  the  open  air  in  various  parts 
of  Somersetshire,  at  seven  o'clock  at  night.  "  My 
hands  and  body,"  says  he,  "were  pierced  with  cold;, 
but  what  are  outward  things,  when  the  soul  is  warmed 
with  the  love  of  God  ?  The  stars  shone  with  exceed- 
ing brightness ;  by  an  eye  of  faith  I  saw  Him  who 
'  calleth  them  all  by  their  names.'  My  soul  was  filled 
with  a  holy  ambition,  and  I  longed  to  be  one  of  those 
who  '  shall  shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever.' " 

At  this  time  he  had  a  fine  opportunity  to  show  his 
Christian  attachment  to  his  old  friends.  Mr.  John 
Wesley  had,  by  a  series  of  extraordinary  labors, 
brought  his  life  into  great  danger,  and  Whitefield, 
hearing  of  this  while  at  Bristol,  wrote  a  sympathizing 
letter  to  his  brother  Charles,  in  which  he  prays  for 
the  descending  garment  of  Elijah  to  rest  on  the  sur- 
viving Elisha,  and  encloses  an  ardent  and  solemn 
farewell  to  the  invalid,  who  was  supposed  to  be  dying. 
He  says,  "  The  news  and  prospect  of  your  approach- 
ing dissolution  have  quite  weighed  me  down.  I  pity 
myself  and  the  church,  but  not  you.  A  radiant  throne  - 
awaits  you,  and  ere  long  you  will  enter  into  your 
Master's  joy.  Yonder  he  stands  with  a  massy  crown, 
ready  to  put  it  on  your  head,  amidst  an  admiring 
throng  of  saints  and  angels.  But  I,  poor  I,  that  have 
been  waiting  for  my  dissolution  these  nineteen  years, 
must  be  left  behind  to  grovel  here  below.  Well,  this 
is  my  comfort,  it  cannot  be  long  ere  the  chariots  will 
be  sent  even  for  worthless  me.  If  prayers  can  detain 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  34t 

you,  even  you,  reverend  and  very  dear  sir,  shall  not 
leave  us  yet.  But  if  the  decree  is  gone  forth  that  you 
must  now  sleep  in  Jesus,  may  he  kiss  your  soul  away, 
and  give  you  to  die  in  the  embraces  of  triumphant  love. 
If  in  the  land  of  the  living,  I  hope  to  pay  my  best 
respects  to  you  next  week.  If  not,  reverend  and  dear 
sir,  farewell."  He  had  soon  the  satisfaction  of  wit- 
nessing the  recovery  of  his  friend,  who  was  to  survive 
him  more  than  twenty  years. 

We  have  already  intimated  that  Whitefield  used 
his  influence  in  Scotland  in  favor  of  the  New  Jersey 
college,  located  at  Princeton.  In  accordance  with 
his  advice,  the  friends  of  the  college  in  this  country 
sent  over  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies,  afterwards  presi- 
dent of  the  college,  and  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  to 
promote  its  interests  in  the  British  islands.  A  few 
extracts  from  the  manuscript  diary  of  Davies,  with 
the  use  of  which  we  have  been  favored  for  this  volume, 
will  show  the  readiness  of  Whitefield  to  labor,  or  to 
"  be  nothing,"  so  that  the  cause  of  Christ  might  be 
advanced.  The  deputation  arrived  in  England  in  the 
closing  month  of  1753,  and  thus  writes  Davies  : 

"  Wednesday,  December  26.  Mr.  Whitefield  hav- 
ing sent  us  an  invitation  last  night  to  make  his  house 
our  home  during  our  stay  here,  we  were  perplexed 
what  to  do,  lest  we  should  blast  the  success  of  our 
mission  among  the  dissenters,  who  are  generally  dis- 
affected to  him.  We  at  length  concluded,  with  the 
advice  of  our  friends  and  his,  that  a  public  intercourse 
with  him  would  be  imprudent,  in  our  present  situation, 
and  visited  him  privately  this  evening  ;  and  the  kind 
reception  he  gave  us  revived  dear  Mr.  Tennent.  He 


348  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

spoke  in  the  most  encouraging  manner  as  to  the  suc- 
cess of  our  mission.  And  in  all  his  conversation  dis- 
covered so  much  zeal  and  candor,  that  I  could  not  but 
admire  the  man  as  the  wonder  of  the  age.  When  we 
returned,  Mr.  Tennent's  heart  was  all  on  fire,  and 
after  we  had  gone  to  bed,  he  suggested  that  we  should 
watch  and  pray;  and  we  rose  and  prayed  together 
till  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

"  Jan.  1.  Went  in  the  evening  to  hear  Mr.  White- 
field  in  the  Tabernacle,  a  large,  spacious  building. 
The  assembly  was  very  numerous,  though  not  equal  to 
what  is  common.  He  preached  on  the  parable  of  the 
barren  fig-tree;  and  though  the  discourse  was  inco- 
herent, yet  it  seemed  to  me  better  calculated  to  do 
good  to  mankind  than  all  the  accurate,  languid  dis- 
courses I  ever  heard.  After  sermon  I  enjoyed  his 
pleasing  conversation  at  his  house." 

It  would  seem  that  Messrs.  Davies  and  Tennent  had 
their  trials,  as  well  as  their  encouragements.  Writ- 
ing Jan.  14,  Mr.  Davies  says,  "Spent  an  hour  with 
Mr.  Whitefield.  He  thinks  we  have  not  taken  the 
best  method  in  endeavoring  to  keep  in  with  all  par- 
ties, but  should  '  come  out  boldly/  as  he  expressed  it, 
which  would  secure  the  affections  of  the  pious  people, 
from  whom  we  might  expect  the  most  generous  con- 
tributions." On  the  evening  after  this,  they  dined 
with  Whitefield  at  the  house  of  a  common  friend,  and 
he  rejoiced  in  the  abundant  success  they  afterwards 
met  with  from  nearly  all  parties. 

"  Jan.  25.  Dined  with  Mr.  Bradbury,  who  has 
been  in  the  ministry  about  fifty-seven  years.  He  read 
us  some  letters  which  passed  between  Mr.  Whitefield 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  349 

and  him,  anno  1741;  occasioned  by  Mr.  Whitefield's 
reproving  him  in  a  letter  for  singing  a  song  in  a  tav- 
ern, in  a  large  company,  in  praise  of  old  English  beef. 
The  old  gentleman  sung  it  to  us,  and  we  found  it  was 
partly  composed  by  himself,  in  the  high-flying  days  of 
Queen  Anne.  He  is  a  man  of  a  singular  turn,  which 
would  be  offensive  to  the  greatest  number  of  serious 
people ;  but  for  my  part  I  could  say, 

"'I  knew  't  was  his  peculiar  whim, 
Nor  took  it  ill,  as 't  came  from  him.' " 

In  March.  1754,  Whitefield,  in  company  with  twen- 
ty-two poor  destitute  children,  sailed  the  fifth  time  for 
America. 


350  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FIFTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA— RENEWED    LABORS    IN 
GREAT  BRITAIN— TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD  CHAP- 

EL. 

1754-1763. 

ON  this  voyage  to  America,  Whitefield  sailed  for 
South  Carolina  by  way  of  Lisbon.  His  health  de- 
manded repose ;  he  thought  that  seeing  Popery  as  it  is 
when  unrestrained  by  public  opinion,  might  be  of  use 
to  him  in  his  future  labors  ;  and  moreover,  he  had  with 
him  a  number  of  orphans  whom  he  wished  comfortably 
to  settle  at  Bethesda  before  he  visited  the  northern 
provinces.  It  would  be  pleasant,  if  our  limits  would 
allow  it,  to  furnish  the  letters  he  wrote  from  Lisbon 
during  nearly  four  weeks,  but  a  few  sentences  must  suf- 
fice :  "  This  leaves  me  an  inhabitant  of  Lisbon.  We 
have  now  been  here  almost  a  week,  and  I  suppose  shall 
stay  a  fortnight  longer.  A  reputable  merchant  has 
received  me  into  his  house,  and  every  day  shows  me  the 
ecclesiastical  curiosities  of  the  country.  0,  my  dear 
friend,  bless  the  Lord  of  all  lords,  for  causing  your 
lot  to  be  cast  in  such  a  fair  ground  as  England,  and 
giving  you  such  a  goodly  heritage.  It  is  impossible  to 
be  sufficiently  thankful  for  civil  and  religious  liberty, 
for  simplicity  of  worship,  and  powerful  preaching  of 
the  word  of  God.  0  for  simplicity  of  manners,  and  a 
correspondent  behavior.  The  air  agrees  with  my 
poor  constitution  extremely  well.  Through  divine 


FIFTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  351 

assistance,  I  hope  what  I  see  will  also  improve  my 
better  part,  and  help  to  qualify  me  better  for  preach- 
ing the  everlasting  gospel." 

In  another  letter  he  writes,  "  Never  did  civil  and 
religious  liberty  appear  to  me  in  so  amiable  a  light 
as  now.  What  a  spirit  must  Martin  Luther  and  the 
first  reformers  be  endued  with,  that  dared  to  appear 
as  they  did  for  God.  Lord,  hasten  that  blessed  time 
when  others,  excited  by  the  same  spirit,  shall  perform 
like  wonders.  Oh,  happy  England !  Oh,  happy  Meth- 
odists, who  are  Methodists  indeed !  And  all  I  account 
such,  who,  being  dead  to  sects  and  parties,  aim  at 
nothing  else  but  as  holy  a  method  of  living  to,  and 
dying  in  the  blessed  Jesus." 

He  was  heartily  glad  to  get  away  from  Popish 
processions  and  superstitious  rites,  and  again  to  visit 
his  "  dear  America." 

Our  evangelist  arrived  with  his  orphans  at  Beau- 
fort, in  South  Carolina,  May  27,  1754,  greatly  im- 
proved in  health,  with  a  heart  burning  with  love  and 
zeal  for  his  Lord  and  Master.  He  says,  with  his 
usual  energy,  "  Oh  that  I  may  at  length  learn  to  begin 
to  live.  I  am  ashamed  of  my  sloth  and  lukewarmness, 
and  long  to  be  on  the  stretch  for  God."  His  family 
now  consisted,  "  black  and  white,"  of  one  hundred  and 
six  members,  all  dependent  on  his  personal  efforts 
and  influence.  He  regarded  his  charge  as  a  steward- 
ship for  God,  and  collected  accordingly,  nothing  doubt- 
ing. It  was  now  summer,  and  besides  the  oppressive 
heat,  "  great  thunders,  violent  lightnings,  and  heavy 
rains  "  frequently  beat  upon  him  as  he  journeyed  from 
place  to  place.  His  health  improved,  and  his  spirits 


352  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

rose  as  he  advanced  on  his  journey.  At  Charleston, 
and.  else  where,  his  labors  were  received  with  the  same 
degree  of  acceptance  as  formerly,  and  he  was  much 
encouraged  by  the  conversion  of  a  clergyman,  a  faith- 
ful successor  to  Mr.  Smith  of  the  city  just  named,  and 
the  first  student  sent  forth  from  Bethesda. 

He  arrived  at  New  York,  by  water,  July  27,  and 
divided  his  labors  between  that  city  and  Philadelphia 
almost  entirely  for  nearly  two  months.  In  the  latter 
city,  he  tells  us,  he  was  seized  with  violent  cholera 
morbus,  and  brought  to  the  gates  of  death.  To  use 
his  own  words,  he  "had  all  his  cables  out,  ready  to 
cast  anchor  within  the  port  of  eternity  ;"  but  he  was 
soon  "  at  sea  again,"  although  only  able  to  preach 
once  a  day  for  some  time.  "  Everywhere,"  he  says, 
"  a  divine  power  accompanied  the  word,  prejudices 
were  removed,  and  a  more  effectual  door  opened  than 
ever  for  preaching  the  gospel."  When  he  looked  at 
"the  glorious  range  for  hunting  in  the  American 
woods,"  he  was  at  a  loss  on  which  hand  to  turn.  .  .  . 
"Affection,  intense  affection  cries  aloud,  Away  to  New 
England,  dear  New  England,  immediately.  Provi- 
dence, and  the  circumstances  of  the  southern  provin- 
ces, point  directly  to  Virginia." 

While  thus  undecided,  he  visited  his  old  friend 
Governor  Belcher,  then  governor  of  New  Jersey,  and 
residing  at  Elizabethtown.  He  found  the  good  old 
man  ripening  for  heaven,  willing  to  depart  and  to  be 
with  Christ.  At  this  time  the  commencement  of  New 
Jersey  college  was  held,  and  as  a  mark  of  their  re- 
spect, the  president  and  trustees  conferred  on  him  the 
honorary  degree  of  master  of  arts.  The  meeting  of 


FIFTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  353 

the  synod  immediately  followed,  respecting  which  body 
he  says,  "  I  was  much  refreshed  with  the  company  of 
the  whole  synod ;  such  a  number  of  simple-hearted, 
united  ministers  I  never  saw  before.  I  preached  to 
them  several  times,  and  the  great  Master  of  assemblies 
was  in  the  midst  of  us." 

Influenced  by  what  he  saw  and  heard  in  New  Jer- 
sey, Whitefield  determined  to  go  to  New  England, 
and  to  return  from  thence  by  Virginia  to  Georgia, 
and  made  his  arrangements  accordingly  ;  it  would 
comprise  a  circuit  of  more  than  two  thousand  miles, 
but  he  said,  "  The  Redeemer's  strength  will  be  more 
than  sufficient." 

It  has  been  thought  that  it  was  during  this  visit  of 
Whitefield  to  New  Jersey,  and  probably  at  the  table 
of  Governor  Belcher,  that  he  dined  in  company  with 
a  number  of  ministers,  and  held  the  often-reported 
conversation  with  "  Father  Tennent."  After  dinner, 
Mr.  Whitefield  adverted  to  the  difficulties  attending 
the  Christian  ministry ;  lamented  that  all  their  zeal 
availed  but  little ;  said  that  he  was  weary  with  the 
burden  of  the  day ;  and  declared  his  great  comfort  in 
the  thougjjt,  that  in  a  short  time  his  work  would  be 
done,  when  he  should  depart  and  be  with  Christ.  He 
then  appealed  to  the  ministers,  if  it  was  not  their 
great  comfort  that  they  should  soon  go  to  rest.  They 
generally  assented,  except  Mr.  Tennent,  who  sat  next 
to  Mr.  Whitefield  in  silence,  and  by  his  countenance 
indicated  but  little  pleasure  in  the  conversation. 

Seeing  this,  Mr.  Whitefield,  gently  tapping  him  on 
the  knee,  said,  "  Well,  brother  Tennent,  you  are  the 
oldest  man  among  us ;  do  you  not  rejoice  to  think  that 


354  .  .    GEOEGE  WHITEFIELD. 

your  time  is  so  near  at  hand,  when  you  will  be  called 
home  ?"  Mr.  Tennent  bluntly  answered,  "  I  have  no 
wish  about  it."  Mr.  Whitefield  pressed  him  again. 
Mr.  Tennent  again  answered,  "  No,  sir,  it  is  no  pleas- 
ure to  me  at  all ;  and  if  you  knew  your  duty,  it  would 
be  none  to  you.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  death ; 
my  business  is  to  live  as  long  as  I  can,  as  well  as  I 
can,  until  He  shall  think  proper  to  call  me  home." 
Mr.  Whitefield  still  urged  for  an  explicit  answer  to 
his  question,  in  case  the  time  of  death  were  left  to  his 
own  choice.  Mr.  Tennent  replied,  "  I  have  no  choice 
about  it ;  I  am  God's  servant,  and  have  engaged  to  do 
his  business  as  long  as  he  pleases  to  continue  me  there- 
in. But  now,  brother,  let  me  ask  you  a  question. 
What  do  you  think  I  should  say,  if  I  was  to  send  my 
servant  into  the  field  to  plough  ;  and  if  at  noon  I 
should  go  to  the  field,  and  find  him  lounging  under  a 
tree,  and  complaining,  'Master,  the  sun  is  very  hot, 
and  the  ploughing  hard ;  I  am  weary  of  the  work  you 
have  appointed  me,  and  am  overdone  with  the  heat 
and  burden  of  the  day.  Do,  master,  let  me  return 
home,  and  be  discharged  from  this  hard  service?' 
What  should  I  say  ?  Why,  that  he  was  a  lazy  fellow, 
and  that  it  was  his  business  to  do  the  work  that  I  had 
appointed  him,  until  I  should  think  fit  to  call  him 
home." 

Accompanied  by  President  Burr,  Whitefield  set 
out,  October  1,  for  Boston,  and  arrived  there  on  the 
9th.  Here  he  stayed  a  week,  and  saw  there,  morning 
after  morning,  three  or  four  thousand  people  hanging 
in  breathless  silence  on  his  lips,  and  weeping  silent 
tears.  Whitefield  himself  calls  it  "a  lovely  scene," 


FIFTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  355 

and  says  he  "  never  saw  a  more  effectual  door  opened 
for  the  gospel.  Sinners  have  been  awakened,  saints 
quickened,  and  enemies  made  at  peace  with  me. 
Grace,  grace!  Surely  my  coming  here  was  of  God. 
Convictions  do  fasten,  and  many  souls  are  comforted." 
Such  were  the  crowds  at  the  early  sermons,  that  in 
order  to  reach  the  pulpit,  he  had  to  get  in  at  the  win- 
dows of  the  churches.  In  a  letter  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,  he  wrote,  "  In  Boston,  the  tide  ran  full 
as  high  as  ever  your  ladyship  knew  it  at  Edinburgh, 
or  in  any  part  of  Scotland." 

While  at  Boston,  Whitefield  heard  with  much 
pleasure  of  the  appointment  of  his  friend  Habersham 
as  secretary  to  the  new  governor  of  Georgia,  and 
wrote  to  him,  "I  wish  you  joy  of  your  new  honor. 
May  the  King  of  kings  enable  you  to  discharge  your 
trust  as  becomes  a  good  patriot,  subject,  and  Chris- 
tian. You  have  now  a  call,  I  think,  to  retire  from 
business,  and  to  give  up  your  time  to  the  public." 
Our  evangelist  travelled  north  as  far  as  Portsmouth, 
in  New  Hampshire,  generally  preaching  two  or  three 
times  a  day,  till  November  7,  when  he  took  his  fare- 
well at  Boston,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Speak- 
ing of  this  journey,  he  says,  "What  have  I  seen? 
Dagon  falling  everywhere  before  the  ark;  enemies 
silenced,  or  made  to  own  the  finger  of  God ;  and  the 
friends  of  Jesus  triumphing  in  his  glorious  conquests. 
A  hundredth  part  cannot  be  told.  We  had  scarcely 
one  dry  meeting."  When  he  arrived  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Portsmouth,  the  northern  boundary  of  his 
journey,  he  was  overwhelmed  with  humility  as  well  as 
joy,  by  the  large  cavalcade  which  came  out  to  meet 


356  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

and  welcome  him.  He  says  of  them,  "  They  were  too 
many;"  and  of  this  northern  journey,  "It  seems  tome 
the  most  important  one  I  was  ever  engaged  in." 

Of  no  portion  of  Whitefield's  life  are  we  so  igno- 
rant as  of  the  journey  he  now  made  from  New  Eng- 
land to  the  South.  Journal,  letters,  historians,  and 
newspapers  alike  fail  us.  Gillies  tells  us  only  that 
from  Boston  he  "proceeded  to  Rhode  Island,  and 
went  onward  through  Maryland  and  Virginia,  with  a 
prospect  so  pleasing,  that  he  lamented  he  had  not 
come  sooner.  The  whole  country  seemed  eager  to 
hear  the  gospel,  many  coming  forty  or  fifty  miles,  and 
a  spirit  of  conviction  and  consolation  appeared  in 
every  congregation.  Prejudices  seemed  to  have  fled ; 
churches  were  opened  to  him ;  high  and  low,  rich  and 
poor,  now  seemed  to  think  favorably  of  his  ministra- 
tions; and  many  acknowledged  what  God  had  done 
for  their  souls  through  his  preaching,  when  he  was 
there  before."  It  scarcely  appears  probable  that  he 
went  from  Rhode  Island  to  Maryland  by  water ;  but 
if  he  did  not,  he  must  have  passed  through  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  and  Philadelphia,  and  we  feel  somewhat 
of  surprise  that  no  records  of  the  journey  appear  to 
have  been  preserved. 

Dr.  Franklin  relates  a  very  characteristic  anec- 
dote of  Mr.  Whitefield,  which  probably  occurred  in 
Philadelphia  or  its  neighborhood  at  a  period  not  later 
than  this.  "The  eloquent  orator"  was  preaching  in 
an  open  field,  when  a  drummer  was  present,  who  was 
determined  to  interrupt  the  preacher,  and  rudely  beat 
his  drum  in  a  violent  manner,  in  order  to  drown  his 
voice.  Whitefield  spoke  very  loud,  but  could  not 


FIFTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  357 

make  so  much  noise  as  the  instrument.  He  therefore 
called  out  to  the  drummer,  "Friend,  you  and  I  serve 
the  two  greatest  masters  existing,  but  in  different 
callings.  You  beat  up  for  volunteers  for  King  George, 
I  for  the  Lord  Jesus  :  in  God's  name,  then,  let  us  not. 
interrupt  each  other ;  the  world  is  wide  enough  for 
both,  and  we  may  get  recruits  in  abundance."  This 
speech  had  such  an  effect  on  the  drummer,  that  he 
went  away  in  great  good-humor,  and  left  the  preacher 
in  full  possession  of  the  field. 

Virginia,  alike  from  the  success  of  his  former  labors 
there,  and  from  the  general  characteristics  of  the  peo- 
ple, must  have  presented  a  scene  of  intense  interest  to 
Whitefield  at  this  time.  Everywhere  great  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  his  coming,  and  large  congrega- 
tions assembled  to  hear  him.  It  is  said,  that  on  one 
occasion,  as  he  was  speaking  on  the  banks  of  one  of 
the  rivers  of  this  noble  province,  and  spoke  of  the 
strength  of  human  depravity,  and  the  insufficiency  of 
the  means  of  grace  to  convert  the  sinner  without  the 
influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit :  "Sinners,"  said  he,  "think 
not  that  I  expect  to  convert  a  single  soul  of  you  by 
any  fhing  that  I  can  say,  without  the  assistance  of 
Him  who  is  '  mighty  to  save.'  Go  and  stand  by  that 
river,  as  it  moves  on  its  strong  and  deep  current  to 
the  ocean,  and  bid  it  stop,  and  see  if  it  will  obey  you. 
Just  as  soon  should  I  expect  to  stop  that  river  by  a 
word,  as  by  my  preaching  to  stop  that  current  of  sin 
which  is  carrying  you  to  perdition.  Father  in  heav- 
en, see  1  they  are  hurried  on  towards  hell ;  save  them, 
or  they  perish!"  The  impression  which  this  address 
produced  on  his  hearers  was  so  strong,  that  they  were 


358  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ready  to  respond  with  trembling,  "Save,  Lord;  we 
perish !" 

Whitefield  must  have  been  highly  gratified  on 
reaching  Charleston,  in  attending  the  ordination  of 
the  young  minister  there,  his  first  student  from  Be- 
thesda,  of  whom  we  have  already  spoken  as  succeed- 
ing Mr.  Smith ;  and  not  less  would  he  rejoice  that 
one  of  the  actors  at  the  Charleston  theatre  had  been 
"  snatched  as  a  brand  from  the  burning." 

Though  we  have  not  the  exact  date  of  his  arrival 
at  Savannah,  we  know  that  he  remained  there  but  a 
very  short  time.  His  health  again  declined,  his  for- 
mer vomitings  returned  with  violence,  and  his  animal 
spirits  failed  with  his  strength.  In  February,  1755, 
we  again  find  him  at  Charleston ;  and  in  the  latter  end 
of  March,  he  embarked  for  England,  arriving,  after  a 
comparatively  short  voyage,  at  Newhaven,  in  Sussex, 
May  the  eighth. 

Two  strong  impressions  were  made  on  the  mind 
of  Whitefield  as  he  now  looked  on  his  native  land. 
The  first  was  that  of  grief  on  account  of  its  condition. 
Nothing  less  than  war  with  France  was  daily  expect- 
ed, for  the  French  threatened  to  invade  Britain,  and 
were  constantly  making  encroachments  on  her  Amer- 
ican colonies.  "  At  this  time,"  he  says,  "  next  to  Jesus 
Christ,  my  king  and  my  country  were  upon  my  heart. 
I  hope  I  shall  always  think  it  my  duty,  next  to  invit- 
ing sinners  to  the  blessed  Jesus,  to  exhort  my  hearers 
to  resist  the  first  approaches  of  popish  tyranny  and 
arbitrary  power.  0  that  we  may  be  enabled  to  watch 
and  pray  against  all  the  opposition  of  antichrist  in 
our  own  hearts ;  for,  after  all,  there  lies  the  most  dan- 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  359 

gerous  man  of  sin."  His  second  feeling  was  one  of 
holy  joy ;  for  during  his  absence  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  had  been  abundantly  successful.  He  writes, 
"Glory  be  to  the  great  Head  of  the  church!  The 
poor  despised  Methodists  are  as  lively  as  ever ;  and 
in  several  churches  the  gospel  is  now  preached  with 
power.  Many  in  Oxford  are  awakened  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth ;  and  I  have  heard  almost  every 
week  of  some  fresh  minister  or  another,  who  seems 
'determined  to  know  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ,  and 
him  crucified.' " 

At  the  Tabernacle  in  London,  as  might  be  ex- 
pected, Whitefield  enjoyed  what  he  terms  "golden 
seasons ;"  but  by  this  time  not  a  few  of  the  London 
clergy  had  begun  to  preach  Christ  with  holy  fidelity  ; 
and  as  this  was  the  principal  thing  he  desired,  he  says 
his  "  call  to  go  abroad  was  still  more  clear."  Indeed, 
so  little  did  he  now  esteem  London  as  a  sphere  of  la- 
bor, and  so  much  did  he  regard  places  by  the  amount 
of  their  destitution,  that  he  wished  at  once  to  return 
to  America,  without  ranging  through  England  or 
Scotland.  Hence  he  says,  "  Methinks  I  could  set  out 
for  America  to-morrow,  though  I  have  not  yet  entered 
upon  my  country  range." 

But  if  he  loved  America  most,  England  loved  her- 
self more,  and  he  was  drawn  again  into  Gloucester- 
shire and  Bristol.  He  went  also,  at  the  request  of 
Lady  Huntingdon,  to  dedicate  the  new  Tabernacle  at 
Norwich,  to  which  we  have  already  referred.  At  this 
last  place,  he  says,  August  30, 1755,  "Notwithstanding 
offences  have  come,  there  has  been  a  glorious  work 
begun,  and  is  now  carrying  on.  The  polite  and  great 


360  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

seem  to  hear  with  much  attention;  and  I  scarcely 
ever  preached  a  week  together  with  greater  freedom." 
For  a  long  period  the  work  of  God  abundantly  pros- 
pered in  connection  with  this  "Tabernacle."  Two 
years  after  its  dedication,  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter 
Shirley  preached  some  time  in  it,  and  had  eight  hun- 
dred communicants  in  fellowship,  and  he  said  of  them, 
"Their  experience,  lives,  and  conversation  are  so 
excellent,  that  there  is  nothing  like  it  in  the  whole 
kingdom." 

On  Whitefield's  return  to  London,  there  were 
those  who  urgently  entreated  him  to  engage  in  a  new 
controversy  with  the  Messrs.  Wesley,  some  of  whose 
followers  had  been  jealous  of  his  success  at  Norwich. 
He  declined,  with  his  common  remark,  "I  have  no 
time  for  controversy,"  and  reserved  what  he  had  to 
say  till  he  could  see  them  "face  to  face,"  simply  writ- 
ing to  assure  them  that  he  had  no  party  designs  on 
foot. 

Very  soon  after  this,  he  set  out  for  his  northern 
circuit;  and  wonderfully  indeed  did  the  Lord  grant 
him  success.  One  thing,  however,  on  this  journey 
grieved  him.  His  friends  at  Leeds,  without  his  know- 
ledge, had  built  a  large  church  edifice.  He  saw  at 
once,  that  this  circumstance  would  create  an  "awful 
separation  among  the  societies"  formed  by  the  Messrs. 
Wesley  and  his  own  friends ;  and  lost  no  time  in  writ- 
ing to  those  ministers,  that  they  might  endeavor  to 
prevent  a  breach.  Both  the  plan  and  the  spirit  of 
this  undertaking  so  grieved  him,  that  he  exclaimed, 
"  Oh  this  self-love,  this  self-will,  is  the  devil  of  devils." 
This  he  wrote  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  a  proof  that  party 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  361 

was  not  their  object ;  and  it  is  pleasant  to  add,  that 
Whitefield's  fears  were  groundless.  Leeds,  even  then, 
contained  population  sufficient  to  fill  both  houses,  and 
the  whole  movement  "fell  out  rather  to  the  further- 
ance of  the  gospel."  During  two  months  he  preached 
twice,  and  some  days  three  times,  to  greater  numbers 
than  ever  before,  inviting  them  to  Christ,  and  "ex- 
horting them  to  pray  for  King  George,  and  the  dear 
friends  in  America."  He  heard  at  this  time,  that  the 
American  ladies  were  making  the  soldiers'  coats ;  and 
he  immediately  wrote  to  urge  his  own  female  friends 
in  the  new  world  to  be  "  some  of  the  most  active  in 
this  labor  of  love." 

Though  Mr.  Whitefield  stood  very  high  in  the 
esteem  of  that  class  of  ministers  who  embraced  his 
views  of  evangelical  truth,  and  who  approved  the 
plans  he  pursued  for  the  evangelization  of  the  world, 
they  never  considered  him  perfect,  nor  were  some  of 
them  backward,  when  they  deemed  it  needful,  to  re- 
prove him.  In  a  sermon  he  once  preached  in  Haw- 
orth  church,  Yorkshire,  of  which  his  friend  Grini- 
shaw  was  the  minister,  having  spoken  severely  of  those 
professors  of  the  gospel  who,  by  their  loose  and  evil 
conduct,  caused  the  ways  of  truth  to  be  evil  spoken 
of,  he  intimated  his  hope,  that  it  was  not  necessary 
to  enlarge  much  on  that  topic  to  the  congregation 
before  him,  who  had  so  long  enjoyed  the  labors  of 
an  able  and  faithful  preacher ;  and  he  was  willing 
to  believe  that  their  profiting  appeared  to  all  men. 
This  latter  expression  roused  Mr.  Grimshaw's  spirit, 
and  notwithstanding  his  great  regard  for  the  preach- 
er, he  stood  up  and  interrupted  him,  saying,  with  a 

Whitefield.  1 6 


362  GEOKGE  WHITEFIELD. 

loud  voice,  "  0  sir,  for  God's  sake,  do  not  speak  so ; 
I  pray  you,  do  not  flatter.  I  fear  the  greater  part  of 
them  are  going  to  hell  with  their  eyes  open." 

Notwithstanding  the  astonishing  labors  of  White- 
field  on  this  tour,  he  returned  to  London  apparently 
in  full  flesh,  and  was  congratulated  by  his  friends 
on  his  improved  appearance.  Alas,  all  this,  as  he 
well  knew,  was  disease,  which  indeed  very  soon  be- 
came apparent.  He  was  seized  with  inflammatory 
sore  throat,  that  was  followed  by  quinsy,  assuming  an 
almost  fatal  aspect.  One  physician  prescribed  silence 
and  warmth,  and  the  preacher  "  promised  to  be  very 
obedient ,"  but  a  few  days  afterwards,  another  recom- 
mended a  perpetual  blister  :  this  proposal  roused  him, 
and  he  determined  to  try  his  Qwn  remedy — perpetual 
preaching.  The  remedy  itself  was  painful,  but  he 
said,  "  When  this  grand  catholicon  fails,  it  is  all  over 
with  me."  At  this  time  the  sad  news  of  the  earth- 
quake at  Lisbon  arrived  in  London ;  he  was  unable 
to  preach  on  the  subject,  but  when  told  of  it  he  said, 
"  Blessed  be  God,  I  am  ready  ;  I  know  that  my  Re- 
deemer liveth.  Oh  that  all  in  Portugal  had  known 
this !  Then  an  earthquake  would  only  be  a  rumbling 
chariot  to  carry  the  soul  to  God.  Poor  Lisbon,  how 
soon  are  thy  riches  and  superstitious  pageantry  swal- 
lowed up!" 

In  the  winter  of  1755-6,  he  was  applied  to  to  preach 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  two  great  theatres,  which  he 
began  to  do  in  Long  Acre  chapel.  Disturbances  took 
place,  and  the  Bishop  of  London  interposed  to  stop 
him.  In  the  end  he  erected  Tottenham  Court-road 
chapel,  as  already  detailed  in  our  third  chapter. 


IN  GREAT  BKITAIN.  363 

Mr.  Whitefield's  ministry  in  London  at  this  time 
was  still  successful.  Thousands  hung  on  his  lips  with 
delight,  not  a  few  of  whom  were  won  to  the  service 
of  Christ.  He  tells  us,  among  many  similar  facts,  of 
the  conversion  of  a  Mr.  Crane,  who  was  afterwards 
appointed  steward  of  the  orphan-house  in  Georgia. 
This  gentleman  had  one  evening  determined  to  visit 
the  theatre,  and  set  out  for  Drury-lane ;  that  house 
being  crowded,  he  resolved  to  go  to  Covent-garden  ; 
that  also  being  so  full  that  he  could  not  obtain  admit- 
tance, he  changed  his  plan,  and  resolved  on  being  en- 
tertained with  one  of  Whitefield's  sermons,  and  hast- 
ened to  Tottenham  Court-road  chapel.  It  pleased 
God  to  impress  the  word  on  his  heart,  and  he  became 
an  eminent  Christian.  So  truly  is  the  prediction  ver- 
ified, "  I  am  found  of  them  who  sought  me  not." 

During  this  year  he  published  "  A  Short  Address 
to  Persons  of  all  Denominations,  occasioned  by  an 
Alarm  of  an  intended  Invasion."  We  have  examined 
it,  and  not  without  pleasure.  It  is  a  faithful  exposure 
of  Popery  and  its  bitter  fruits. 

It  is  a  charge  often  preferred  against  the  faithful 
ministers  of  Christ,  by  those  whose  consciences  testify 
to  their  own  guilt,  that  they  are  personal  in  their  re- 
marks, and  mean  to  censure  particular  individuals. 
It  is  certain  that  this  was  often  done  by  Mr  "White- 
field,  and  sometimes  with  very  happy  effect.  He  once 
drew,  from  the  conduct  of  his  female  servant,  the  pic- 
ture of  a  Christian  failing  in  his  duty,  which  painfully 
distressed  her,  till  he  gave  her  an  assurance  of  his 
entire  forgiveness. 

Nor  was  this  the  only  time  when  his  hearers  were 


364  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

compelled  to  feel,  "he  means  me"  The  celebrated 
comedian,  Shuter,  had  a  great  personal  regard  for  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  not  unfrequently  attended  his  minis- 
try. At  one  period  of  his  popularity  he  was  acting 
in  a  drama  under  the  character  of  Ramble.  During 
the  run  of  the  performance,  he  attended  service  at 
Tottenham  Court  chapel,  and  was  seated  in  a  pew 
exactly  opposite  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Whitefield  on  that 
occasion  gave  full  vent  to  his  feelings,  and  in  his  own 
energetic  manner  invited  sinners  to  the  Saviour. 
"While  doing  this,  fixing  his  eye  full  on  Shuter,  he 
added,  "  And  thou,  poor  Ramble,  who  hast  long  ram- 
bled from  him,  come  also.  Oh,  end  your  rambling  by 
coming  to  Jesus."-  Shuter  was  exceedingly  struck, 
and  going  afterwards  to  Whitefield,  he  said, "  I  thought 
I  should  have  fainted;  how  could  you  serve  me  so?" 
In  the  early  part  of  1756,  Whitefield  was  engaged 
in  London,  preaching  and  collecting  for  the  poor  not 
only  at  Bethesda,  but  also  for  the  French  Protestants. 
At  the  Tabernacle,  a  man  came  up  to  him  in  the  pulpit, 
threatening  his  life,  and  handing  him  three  anonymous 
letters  denouncing  sudden  and  certain  death,  unless 
he  ceased  to  preach  and  to  pursue  the  offenders  by 
law.  One  of  these  letters  Whitefield  sent  to  the  gov- 
ernment, who  at  once  offered  a  reward,  and  his  maj- 
esty's pardon,  to  any  one  who  would  discover  the 
writer.  While  this  fact  gratified,  it  also  embarrassed 
him.  He  wrote  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  "My  greatest 
distress  is  to  act  so  as  to  avoid  rashness  on  the  one 
hand,  and  timidity  on  the  other."  For  his  own  sake, 
he  would  not  have  cared  about  the  matter ;  but  look- 
ing at  it  as  connected  with  the  cause  of  civil  and 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  365 

religious  freedom,  he  wisely  allowed  the  law  to  take 
its  course  at  the  hazard  'of  his  own  life  by  assassina- 
tion. Agreeably  with  the  advice  of  the  government, 
he  carried  the  whole  affair  into  the  court  of  the  King's 
Bench  ;  this  alarmed  the  offenders,  and  the  annoyance 
ceased. 

We  next  find  him  at  Bristol,  but  not  to  rest,  though 
the  labors  and  anxieties  of  the  winter  and  spring  had 
nearly  worn  out  his  strength  and  spirits.  Here  he 
preached  as  usual,  and  then  returned  to  London. 
During  this  journey  he  preached  in  several  places  in 
Gloucestershire,  his  native  county,  and  in  Bradford, 
Frome,  Warminster,  and  Portsmouth,  spending  about 
three  months  in  the  tour. 

In  the  county  which  gave  Whitefield  birth,  is  still 
to  be  seen  a  chair  on  which  he  often  sat,  and  on  which 
may  be  yet  read  the  following  lines  : 

"  If  love  of  souls  should  e'er  be  wanting  here, 
Remember  me,  for  I  am  Whitefield's  chair ; 
I  bore  his  weight,  was  witness  to  his  fears, 
His  earnest  prayers,  his  interesting  tears. 
His  holy  soul  was  fired  with  love  divine  : 
If  thine  be  such,  sit  down  and  call  me  thine" 

A.  very  few  weeks  passed,  and  we  find  him  in 
Kent.  In  a  letter  written  July  27,  after  his  visit  to 
that  county,  he  says,  "  The  gospel  nourishes  in  Lon- 
don. I  am  just  returned  from  preaching  at  Sheerness, 
Chatham,  and  in  the  camp."  On  the  next  day  he  set 
off  towards  Scotland.  On  August  14,  he  writes  from 
Sunderland, "  How  swiftly  doth  my  precious  time  pass 
away!  It  is  now  a  fortnight  since  I  came  to  Leeds, 
in  and  about  which  I  preached  eight  days,  thrice 
almost  every  day,  to  thronged  and  affected  auditories. 


366  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

On  Sunday  last  at  Bradford,  in  the  morning,  the  audi- 
tory consisted  of  about  ten  thousand ;  at  noon  and  in 
the  evening,  at  Birstal,  to  nearly  double  the  number. 
Though  hoarse,  I  was  helped  to  speak  so  that  all 
heard.  Next  morning  I  took  a  sorrowful  leave  of 
Leeds,  preached  at  Doncaster  at  noon,  and  at  York 
the  same  night.  On  Wednesday,  at  Warstall,  about 
fifty  miles  off ;  on  Thursday,  twice  at  Yarm  ;  and  last 
night  and  this  morning,  here."  Wherever  he  labored, 
he  heard  of  the  good  effects  of  his  preaching  in  those 
places  last  year,  and  was  constantly  finding  "many 
trophies  of  redeeming  love."  Such  was  the  effect  of 
the  two  sermons  he  preached  at  Birstal,  that  "  several 
hundreds  rode  eight  miles  with  him  in  the  evening, 
singing  and  praising  God." 

In  a  day  or  two  after  this,  we  find  him  at  Edin- 
burgh and  Glasgow,  preaching,  as  usual,  _  to  vast 
crowds,  and  with  -his  accustomed  success.  At  the 
former  places  especially,  even  politicians  gave  him  a 
cordial  welcome,  and  thronged  to  hear  him,  while  the 
newspapers  applauded  him  for  his  spirit-stirring  ex- 
posures of  "  Popish  tyranny  and  arbitrary  power." 
He  preached  twice  every  day  in  the  Orphan-hospital 
park,  and  blended  with  almost  every  sermon  rousing 
appeals  to  the  Protestantism,  courage,  and  loyalty  of 
the  Scotch.  At  the  close  of  one  of  his  sermons  he 
pleaded  the  cause  of  the  poor  Highlanders,  and  col- 
lected at  its  close  about  three  hundred  dollars. 

On  his  way  back  to  London,  Whitefield  held  a 
peculiarly  solemn  and  refreshing  meeting  with  his 
friends  at  Leeds ;  and  after  it,  he  braced  his  nerves 
by  a  tour  of  mountain  preaching  in  company  with  his 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  36f 

friend  Grimshaw.  But  it  was  now  late  in  October, 
and  as  he  found  "  these  cold  countries  bringing  on  his 
last  year's  disorder,"  and  having,  as  he  significantly 
says,  "  grown  very  prudent,"  he  returned  to  London, 
and  dedicated  Tottenham  Court-road  church  edifice. 
Another  errand  also  had  taken  him  to  that  city.  The 
new  governor  of  Georgia  had  sent  for  him,  to  con- 
sult with  him  before  sailing  to  that  colony.  White- 
field  met  him,  and  was  so  much  delighted  with  him, 
that  he  wrote  off  to  Bethesda  to  prepare  them  for  a 
state  visit.  He  says,  "  Waited  upon  his  excellency, 
and  gave  him,  and  all  whom  he  pleases  to  bring,  an 

invitation  to  Bethesda.     Dear  Mrs.  C will  make 

proper  provision."  He  went  even  farther,  and  pro- 
posed that  the  governor,  if  possible,  should  be  received 
at  Bethesda  with  military  honors. 

The  success  of  his  new  house  of  worship  in  Tot- 
tenham Court-road  showed  the  necessity  and  pro- 
priety of  its  erection  on  that  spot.  Several  persons 
of  distinction  came,  and  engaged  permanent  seats ; 
and  the  place  was  often  so  crowded,  that  hundreds 
were  unable  to  obtain  admission.  It  was  now  usual 
with  him  to  preach  about  fifteen  times  every  week, 
which,  with  a  weak  appetite,  want  of  rest,  and  much 
care  upon  his  mind,  greatly  enfeebled  him.  He  writes, 
"  But  the  joy  of  the  Lord  is  my  strength ;  and  my 
greatest  grief  is,  that  I  can  do  no  more  for  Him  who 
hath  done  and  suffered  so  much  for  me." 

In  the  following  year,  1757,  Whitefield  planned 
another  journey  to  Scotland,  at  the  time  the  general 
assembly  of  the  church  was  held.  Before  leaving 
London,  he  had  placed  the  affairs  of  his  projected  col- 


368  GEORGE  WHITEFIECD. 

lege  in  the  hands  of  Lord  Halifax,  and  he  now  seems 
to  have  hoped  that  this  journey  to  Scotland  would 
have  promoted  that  object,  as  well  as  others.  It  is 
said,  that  about  a  hundred  ministers  at  a  time  attended 
his  sermons,  thirty  of  whom  invited  him  to  a  public 
entertainment.  Lord  Cathcart,  his  majesty's  commis- 
sioner to  the  assembly,  also  invited  him  to  his  own 
table.  Whitefield  says  that  he  preached  "just  fifty 
times  "  on  this  visit,  which  extended  to  about  a  month. 

From  Scotland  he  went,  in  June,  as  we  have  seen, 
to  Ireland,  and  enjoyed,  in  the  midst  of  no  small  per- 
secution, much  preaching,  and  much  success.  On  his 
return  to  London,  he  found  that  the  governor  of  Geor- 
gia had  visited  Bethesda,  and  promised  to  communi- 
cate his  sentiments  to  Lord  Halifax,  "  concerning  its 
being  enlarged  into  a  college ;"  but  the  pressure  of 
public  affairs  hindered  his  application  to  the  govern- 
ment. Bad  news  arrived  from  America,  "about  the 
fleet,"  and  therefore  Whitefield  kept  a  fast-day  at  his 
houses  of  worship. 

The  health  of  our  evangelist  now  sadly  failed.  He 
was  brought  to  live  on  the  "  short  allowance  of  preach- 
ing but  once  a  day,  and  thrice  on  the  Sunday ;"  a  very 
"  short  allowance  "  for  him.  Once,  however,  he  broke 
through  the  restraint,  and  preached  three  times  on 
the  success  of  the  king  of  Prussia ;  which,  he  says, 
"somewhat  recovered"  him,  after  he  had  been  for  a 
week  at  the  gates  of  the  grave.  He  was  not  able  this 
winter  to  attempt  what  he  considered  great  things ; 
but  Tottenham  Court  was  his  Bethel,  as  he  called  it. 
This  house  was  then  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  piece 
of  ground,  and  he  formed  the  plan  of  building  on  it 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  869 

an  almshouse  for  "  twelve  godly  widows,"  as  a  "stand- 
ing monument  that  the  Methodists  were  not  against 
good  works."  This  charity  he  soon  carried  into 
effect.  His  thoughts,  however,  were  not  confined  to 
hprne.  Although  broken  down  in  health  and  spirits, 
by  weakness  and  want  of  rest,  he  watched  the  affairs 
of  Prussia  with  intense  interest,  and  assured  the  Ger- 
man Protestants,  through  Professor  Francke,  that  "we 
looked  on  their  distresses  as  our  own." 

In  the  spring  of  1758,  he  laid  the  foundation-stone 
of  his  almshouse,  and  in  June  of  the  same  year  began 
to  select  its  inmates.  Pointing  to  these  houses,  some 
years  afterwards,  he  said  to  a  gentleman  who  was 
visiting  him,  "  Those  are  my  redoubts.  The  prayers 
of  the  poor  women  who  reside  in  them,  protect  me  in 
my  house."  Having  arranged  for  the  supply  of  his 
London  pulpits,  Whitefield  went  into  the  west  of  Eng- 
land, and  proceeded  from  thence  into  Wales.  But 
his  health  was  so  feeble,  that  he  could  not  bear  to 
drive,  nor  even  ride  in  a  one-horse  chaise.  The  roads 
were  rough,  and  riding  shook  him  nearly  to  pieces. 
"  Every  thing,"  he  says,  "  wearies  this  shattered  bark 
now."  A  friend  purchased  for  him  a  close  chaise, 
advancing  the  money  until  he  could  conveniently 
repay  it.  He  deeply  felt  this  kindness,  because  by  no 
other  means  could  he  have  itinerated.  "  I  would  not," 
he  says,  "  lay  out  a  single  farthing  but  for  my  blessed 
Master ;  but  it  is  inconceivable  what  I  have  under- 
gone these  three  weeks.  /  never  was  so  before.  0  for 
a  hearse  to  carry  my  weary  carcass  to  the  wished  for 
grave."  During  all  this  tour  he  was  unable  to  sit  up 
in  company  even  once ;  yet  he  often  preached  to  ten 
16* 


370  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

or  fifteen  thousand  people,  and  made  their  "  tears  flow 
like  water  from  the  rock."  His  views  of  himself  at 
this  time  were  more  than  usually  humble.  He  said 
to  Lady  Huntingdon,  "  Oh,  I  am  sick — sick  in  body, 
but  infinitely  more  so  in  mind,  to  see  so  much  dross 
in  my  soul.  Blessed  be  God,  there  is  One  who  will  t 
sit  as  a  refiner's  fire,  to  purify  the  sons  of  Levi.  I 
write  out  of  the  burning  bush.  Christ  is  there ;  Christ 
is  there!" 

Among  the  many  illustrations  of  Scripture  which 
Whitefield  often  introduced  into  his  sermons,  one  is 
truly  worthy  of  record.  Preaching  from  the  words, 
"Wherefore,  glorify  ye  the  Lord  in  the  fires,"  Isa. 
24 : 15,  he  says,  "  When  I  was,  some  years  ago,  at 
Shields,  I  went  into  a  glass-house,  and  standing  very 
attentively,  I  saw  several  masses  of  burning  glass  of 
various  forms.  The  workman  took  one  piece  of  glass, 
and  put  it  into  one  furnace,  then  he  put  it  into  a 
second,  and  then  into  a  third.  I  asked  him, '  Why  do 
you  put  that  into  so  many  fires?'  He  answered  me, 
'  Oh,  sir,  the  first  was  not  hot  enough,  nor  the  second, 
and  therefore  we  put  it  into  the  third,  and  that  will 
make  it  transparent.'  '  Oh,'  thought  I, '  does  this  man 
put  this  glass  into  one  furnace  after  another,  that  it 
may  be  rendered  perfect?  Oh,  my5  God,  put  me  into 
one  furnace  after  another,  that  my  soul  may  be  trans- 
parent, that  I  may  see  God  as  he  is.' " 

In  the  month  of  July,  Whitefield  again  set  out  for 
Scotland,  preaching  on  his  way  in  many  pulpits,  in- 
cluding "  Bishop  Bunyan's,"  as  he  used  to  call  him,  at 
Bedford,  Berridge's  at  Everton,  and  Doddridge's  at 
Northampton,  Fcpir  Episcopal  clergymen  lent  him 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  371 

their  pulpits.  His  health  received,  for  some  time, 
little  benefit,  so  that  he  sometimes  feared  he  must 
return.  But  he  adds,  "  Through  divine  strength,  I 
hope  to  go  forward ;  and  shall  strive,  as  much  as  in 
me  lies,  to  die  in  this  glorious  work."  He  preached 
and  collected  in  Scotland  with  his  accustomed  energy 
and  success,  and  returned  to  London  with  his  health 
somewhat  renovated.  This  year  he  lost  by  death 
some  of  his  earliest  and  warmest  friends,  including 
Hervey  in  England,  and  Presidents  Burr  and  Ed- 
wards, and  Governor  Belcher,  in  America.  Such 
removals  gave  him  also  "  a  desire  to  depart,"  but  his 
work  on  earth  was  not  yet  done. 

Three  principal  facts  connected  with  our  evange- 
list may  be  said  to  mark  the  year  1759.  One  was, 
that  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  clear  off  all  his  debts 
for  the  orphan-house.  "Bethesda's  God,"  he  writes, 
"  lives  for  ever,  and  is  faithful  and  all-sufficient."  He 
longed  again  to  visit  America,  but  several  difficulties 
intervened  for  the  present. 

A  second  event  which  marked  the  year,  was 
another  journey  to  Scotland.  He  complains  in  his 
letters,  that  though  his  congregations  at  Edinburgh 
and  Glasgow  were  never  more  numerous  and  atten- 
tive, yet,  with  respect  to  the  power  of  religion,  it  was 
a  dead  time  in  Scotland,  in  comparison  with  London 
and  several  other  parts  of  England.  His  presence  in 
Scotland,  however,  at  this  time  was  very  important, 
especially  in  collecting  for  his  orphan-house  and  the 
Highland  Society  for  the  support  of  children.  Many 
Scottish  soldiers  were  now  in  America,  which  greatly 
increased  the  interest  felt  in  every  thing  relating  to  it. 


312  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

In  this  year,  1759,  Mr.  WMtefield  also  for  the  first 
time  visited  Brighthelmstone,  now  called  Brighton,  a 
very  fashionable  watering-place,  where  George  IV. 
afterwards,  while  regent,  built  a  tawdry  tasteless 
palace.  The  preacher's  first  sermon  was  delivered 
under  a  tree  in  a  field  behind  the  White  Lion  inn. 
Among  his  congregation  on  that  day  was  a  young 
man  named  Tuppen,  about  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
had  been  educated  by  a  pious  mother  in  the  strict 
observance  of  the  external  parts  of  religion,  but  was 
entirely  destitute  of  its  power.  He  attended  not  so 
much  from  curiosity,  as  from  the  intention  to  insult 
and  interrupt  the  preacher.  He  tells  us,  "  I  had  there- 
fore provided  myself  with  stones  in  my  pocket,  if  op- 
portunity offered,  to  pelt  the  preacher  ;  but  I  had  not 
heard  long,  before  the  stone  was  taken  out  of  my  heart 
of  flesh ;  and  then  the  other  stones,  with  shame  and 
weeping,  were  dropped  one  by  one  out  upon  the 
ground."  The  words,  "  Turn  ye,  turn  ye,"  became  the 
means  of  turning  him  from  sin  to  God.  Mr.  Tuppen 
became  an  excellent  Christian  minister,  and  labored 
as  a  pastor  for  some  years  in  Portsmouth.  He  then 
removed  to  the  city  of  Bath,  where  he  originated  a 
congregation,  and  built  a  house  for  public  worship. 
He  was  succeeded  in  this  important  sphere  by  the  late 
distinguished  William  Jay,  who  labored  there  for 
about  sixty-four  years. 

Such  was  the  prosperity  attendant  on  the  efforts 
of  Messrs.  Whitefield,  Madan,  Romaine,  Berridge, 
Venn,  and  Fletcher,  at  Brighton,  that  Lady  Hunt- 
ingdon felt  it  her  duty  to  erect  a  church  edifice  there, 
and  being  unable  to  do  it  in  any  other  way,  sold  her 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  373 

jewels  to  the  amount  of  nearly  three  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  The  cause  still  flourishes  there,  and 
very  many  have  been  turned  to  righteousness. 

While  Whitefield's  ministry  at  the  Tabernacle  was 
at  its  height  of  popularity,  Foote,  a  comedian  of  emi- 
nent talent  for  mimicry,  who  was  frequently  in  diffi- 
culties on  account  of  his  love  of  ridicule,  by  which 
indeed  his  life  was  shortened,  employed  his  wit  to 
bring  the  distinguished  preacher  into  contempt.  One 
of  his  biographers  says,  that "  very  pressing  embarrass- 
ments in  his  affairs  compelled  him  to  bring  out  his 
comedy  of  '  The  Minor,'  in  1760,  to  ridicule  Method- 
ism, which,  though  successful,  gave  great  offence,  and 
was  at  last  suppressed."  Of  this  miserable  piece  of 
buffoonery,  it  may  be  enough  to  say,  that  Foote,  and 
the  agents  employed  at  the  Tabernacle  and  Totten- 
ham Court-road  chapel  to  collect  materials  from 
Whitefield  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  object, 
were  so  disgracefully  ignorant  of  the  inspired  writ- 
ings, as  not  to  know  that  what  they  took  for  Mr. 
Whitefield's  peculiar  language  was  that  of  the  word 
of  God. 

Lady  Huntingdon  interposed  in  the  matter,  first 
with  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  by  whose  license  alone 
any  play  could  then  be  performed  in  London,  and  then 
with  Mr.  Garrick,  the  latter  of  whom  assured  her  that 
he  would  use  his  influence  to  exclude  it,  and  added, 
that  had  he  been  aware  of  the  offence  it  was  adapted 
to  give,  it  should  never  have  appeared  with  his  con- 
currence. The  representation  of  this  piece  of  mum- 
mery, as  might  have  been  expected,  considerably  in- 
creased Whitefield's  popularity,  and  brought,  thou- 


3U  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD.^ 

sands  of  new  persons  to  hear  the  gospel :  thus  Provi- 
dence gave  him  the  victory  over  his  opposers. 

To  report  the  sicknesses,  the  labors,  and  the  suc- 
cesses of  Whitefield  from  this  time  to  that  of  his  sixth 
embarkation  for  America,  would  be  little  more  than 
a  repetition  of  the  past.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  in  Eng- 
land, and  in  Scotland,  he  labored  amid  much  ill-health, 
and  surrounded  with  many  dangers ;  but  at  length, 
having  found  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  the  Rev.  John 
Berridge,  a  man  of  somewhat  eccentric  manners,  but 
of  great  learning,  of  eminent  piety,  and  of  burning 
zeal,  who  was  willing  to  labor  for  a  time  in  London, 
Whitefield  set  sail  in  the  ship  Fanny,  Captain  Archi- 
bald Galbraith,  bound  from  Greenock  to  Virginia, 
June  1,  1763,  and  arrived  at  Rappahannock,  after  a 
tedious,  but  otherwise  pleasant  voyage  of  about  twelve 
weeks,  in  the  last  week  of  August. 


SIXTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  375 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

SIXTH  VISIT  AND  LABORS  IN  AMERICA— RENEWED 

LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

1763-1767. 

WHITEFIELD  was  now  for  the  sixth  time  in  Ameri- 
ca. He  was  twelve  weeks  on  the  voyage ;  but  though 
tedious,  it  had  done  him  good.  "  I  enjoyed,"  he  says, 
"  that  quietness  which  I  have  in  vain  sought  after  for 
some  years  on  shore."  Owing  to  the  violence  of  his 
asthma,  he  had  set  sail  "  with  but  little  hopes  of  far- 
ther public  usefulness  ;"  but  after  being  six  weeks  at 
sea,  he  wrote  to  a  friend,  "  Who  knows  but  our  latter 
end  may  yet  increase  ?  If  not  in  public  usefulness, 
Lord  Jesus,  let  it  be  in  heart-holiness.  I  know  who 
says  Amen.  I  add,  Amen  and  amen." 

On  his  arrival  in  Virginia,  Whitefield^was  sur- 
rounded by  many  Christian  friends,  the  fruits  of  his 
former  labors  in  that  colony,  but  whom  he  had  not 
hitherto  known.  It  was  with  great  difficulty,  how- 
ever, that  he  preached  to  them ;  for  though  his  gen- 
eral health  was  better,  his  breathing  was  very  bad. 
The  months  of  September,  October,  and  November, 
he  spent  in  Philadelphia.  He  says,  "  Here  are  some 
young  bright  witnesses  rising  up  in  the  church.  Per- 
haps I  have  already  conversed  with  forty  new  creature 
ministers  of  various  denominations.  Sixteen  popular 
students,  I  am  credibly  informed,  were  converted  in 
New  Jersey  college  last  year.  What  an  open  door  if 
I  had  strength !  Last  Tuesday  we  had  a  remarkable 


876  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

season  among  the  Lutherans ;  children  and  grown  peo- 
ple were  much  impressed."  Ill  as  he  was,  he  preached 
twice  a  week,  and  with  his  usual  success. 

He  intensely  desired  at  this  time  to  visit  Georgia, 
but  was  absolutely  prohibited  by  his  physicians,  till 
he  had  recovered  his  strength.  In  the  end  of  Novem- 
ber, therefore,  he  passed  over  into  New  Jersey,  visit- 
ing the  college,  and  Elizabethtown.  He  tells  us  that 
at  the  college  he  had  "  four  sweet  seasons."  His  spir- 
its rose  at  the  sight  of  the  young  soldiers  who  were 
to  fight  when  he  had  fallen.  It  was  now  winter,  and 
"cold  weather  and  a  warm  heart"  put  him  in  good 
spirits,  so  that  he  was  able  to  preach  three  times  a 
week. 

A  young  man,  a  member  of  the  college,  hearing 
that  Whitefield  was  to  preach  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  being  more  than  a  little  anxious  to  ascertain 
whether  he  really  deserved  all  the  celebrity  he  en- 
joyed, wgnt  to  hear  him.  The  day  was  very  rainy, 
and  the  audience  was  small ;  the  preacher,  accustomed 
to  address  thousands,  did  not  feel  his  powers  called 
forth  as  at  other  times.  After  having  heard  about 
one-third  part  of  the  sermon,  the  young  man  said  to 
himself,  "  The  man  is  not  so  great  a  wonder  after  all — • 
quite  commonplace  and  superficial — nothing  but  show, 
and  not  a  great  deal  of  that ;"  and  looking  round  upon 
the  audience,  he  saw  that  they  appeared  about  as  un- 
interested as  usual,  and  that  old  father ,  who  sat 

directly  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  who  always  went 
to  sleep  after  hearing  the  text  and  plan  of  the  sermon, 
was  enjoying  his  accustomed  nap.  About  this  time, 
Whitefield  stopped.  His  face  went  rapidly  through 


SIXTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  377 

many  changes,  till  it  looked  more  like  a  rising  thun- 
der-cloud than  any  thing  else;  and  beginning  very 
deliberately,  he  said,  "  If  I  had  come  to  speak  to  you 
in  my  own  name,  you  might  rest  your  elbows  upon 
your  knees,  and  your  heads  upon  your  hands,  and 
sleep ;  and  once  in  a  while  look  up  and  say,  '  What 
does  the  babbler  talk  of?'  But  I  have  not  come  to 
you  in  my  own  name.  No ;  I  have  come  to  you  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  and  " — here  he 
brought  down  his  hand  and  foot  at  once,  so  as  to 
make  the  whole  house  ring — "  and  I  must,  and  will  be 
heard."  Every  one  in  the  house  started,  and  old 

father among  the  rest.     "  Aye,  aye,"  continued 

the  preacher,  looking  at  him,  "  I  have  waked  you  up, 
have  I  ?  I  meant  to  do  it.  I  am  not  come  here  to 
preach  to  stocks  and  stones;  I  have  come  to  you  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  and  I  must,  and  I 
will  have  an  audience."  The  congregation  was  fully 
aroused,  and  the  remaining  part  of  the  sermon  pro- 
duced a  considerable  effect. 

From  New  Jersey,  Whitefield  passed  on  to  New 
York,  where  he  says,  "  Such  a  flocking  of  all  ranks  I 
never  saw  before  at  New  York.  . . .  Prejudices  have 
most  strangely  subsided.  The  better  sort  flock  as 
eagerly  as  the  common  people,  and  are  fond  of  coming 
for  private  gospel  conversation.  Congregations  con- 
tinue very  large,  and  I  trust  saving  impressions  are 
made  upon  many."  Such  also  was  his  influence  as 
a  philanthropist,  that  though  prejudices  ran  high 
against  the  Indians,  on  account  of  a  threatened  in- 
surrection in  the  south,  he  collected  about  six  hun- 
dred dollars  for  Dr.  Wheelock's  Indian  school  at 


378  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Lebanon,  Conn.,  which  he  soon  after  visited  with 
much  pleasure. 

An  extract  of  a  letter  from  New  York,  dated  Jan. 
23,  1754,  which  appeared  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  may 
show  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held:  "The  Rev. 
George  Whitefield  has  spent  seven  weeks  with  us, 
preaching  twice  a  week,  with  more  general  approba- 
tion than  ever;  and  has  been  treated  with  great 
respect  by  many  of  the  gentlemen  and  merchants  of 
this  place.  During  his  stay  he  preached  two  charity 
sermons,  the  one  on  the  occasion  of  the  annual  collec- 
tion for  the  poor,  in  which  double  the  sum  was  col- 
lected that  ever  was  upon  the  like  occasion;  the 
other  was  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Wheelock's  Indian 
school  at  Lebanon,  for  which  he  collected,  notwith- 
standing the  present  prejudices  of  many  people  against 
the  Indians,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds. 
In  his  last  sermon,  he  took  a  very  affectionate  leave  of 
the  people  of  this  city,  who  expressed  great  concern 
at  his  departure.  May  God. restore  this  great  and 
good  man,  in  whom  the  gentleman,  the  Christian,  and 
accomplished  orator  shine  forth  with  such  peculiar 
lustre,  to  a  perfect  state  of  health,  and  continue  him 
long  a  blessing  to  the  world  and  the  church  of  Christ." 

Leaving  New  York,  he  visited  and  preached,  as 
far  as  his  strength  would  allow,  at  Easthampton 
Bridge,  Hampton,  and  Southhold,  on  Long  Island ;  at 
Shelter  Island,  and  at  New  London,  Norwich,  and 
Providence. 

Whitefield  arrived  at  Boston  in  the  end  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1764,  and  was  welcomed  by  multitudes  with 
cordial  affection ;  and  again  he  saw  "  the  Redeemer's 


SIXTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  379 

stately  steps  in  the  great  congregation."  Boston  at 
that  time  was  visited  with  small-pox,  and  Whitefield 
therefore  devoted  much  of  his  labor  to  the  adjacent 
towns.  Writing  from  Concord,  he  says,  "  How  would 
you  have  been  delighted  to  have  seen  Mr.  Wheelock's 
Indians.  Such  a  promising  nursery  of  future  mission- 
aries, I  believe,  was  never  seen  in  New  England  be- 
fore. Pray  encourage  it  with  all  your  might."  About 
two  months  after  his  arrival  in  Boston,  his  illness 
returned,  but  did  not  long  prevent  him  from  preach- 
ing, and  the  people  still  flocked  in  crowds  to  hear 
him.  He  left  Boston  for  the  south;  but  messengers 
were  sent  to  entreat  his  return,  and  especially  urged 
him  to  renew  his  six  o'clock  morning  lecture.  He 
did  return,  but  was  now  unable  to  preach  at  the  early 
hour  they  desired ;  he  appeared,  however,  in  the  pul- 
pit for  some  time  on  three  occasions  in  the  week,  and 
such  was  the  number  of  converts  discovered,  that  after 
he  had  left  it  was  proposed  to  send  him  a  book  filled 
with  their  names,  as  desiring  his  return. 

"We  ought  to  have  said,  that  according  to  the 
Boston  Gazette,  about  the  time  of  the  arrival  of 
Whitefield,  "  at  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston,  it  was  unanimously 
voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefield,  for  his  charitable  care  and  pains 
in  collecting  a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  Great 
Britain  for  the  distressed  sufferers  by  the  great  fire  in 
Boston,  1760.  A  respectable  committee  was  appointed 
to  wait  on  Mr.  Whitefield,  to  inform  him  of  the  vote, 
and  present  him  with  a  copy  thereof." 

Notwithstanding   the   earnest  entreaties   of  his 


380  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

friends,  he  left  Boston  in  the  early  part  of  June.  On 
the  first  of  that  month  he  wrote,  "  Friends  have  even 
constrained  me  to  stay  here,  for  fear  of  running  into 
the  summer's  heat.  Hitherto  I  find  the  benefit  of  it. 
Whatever  it  is  owing  to,  through  mercy,  I  am  much 
better  in  health  than  I  was  this  time  twelve  months, 
and  can  preach  thrice  a  week  to  very  large  auditories 
without  hurt ;  and  every  day  I  hear  of  some  brought 
under  concern.  This  is  all  of  grace." 

Sorrowfully  parting  from  his  friends  at  Boston, 
Whitefield  left  them  for  New  York  by  way  of  New 
Haven.  Here  he  preached  to  the  students,  and  had 
taken  his  leave  of  them ;  but  such  was  the  impression 
he  had  made  on  their  minds,  that  they  requested  the 
president  to  go  after  him,  to  entreat  for  another  "  quar- 
ter of  an  hour's  exhortation."  He  complied  with  the 
request,  and  the  effect  was  whal  he  called  "  the  crown 
of  the  expedition."  He  continued  at  New  York  till 
the  end  of  August.  While  there  he  writes,  "  At  pres- 
ent my  health  is  better  than  usual,  and  as  yet  I  have 
felt  no  inconvenience  from  the  summer's  heat.  I  have 
preached  twice  lately  in  the  fields,  and  we  sat  under 
the  blessed  Redeemer's  shadow  with  great  delight. 
My  late  excursions  upon  Long  Island,  I  trust,  have 
been  blessed.  It  would  surprise  you  to  see  above  one 
hundred  carriages  at  every  sermon  in  the  new  world." 

On  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  in  September,  White- 
field  preached  at  the  New  Jersey  college  commence- 
ment ;  for  which,  and  for  the  influence  he  had  exerted 
in  favor  of  the  institution,  the  trustees  sent  him  a  vote 
of  thanks.  His  reception  at  the  college  was  all  he 
could  desire.  The  governor  and  the  ex-governor  of 


SIXTH  VISIT  TO  AMERICA.  381 

the  state,  with  many  other  gentlemen,  attended,  and 
every  other  mark  of  respect  was  shown  him.  At 
Philadelphia,  he  describes  the  effect  of  his  labors  as 
"great  indeed," 'and  as  usual,  he  was  compelled  to 
exclaim,  "  Grace,  grace  1" 

Leaving  Pennsylvania,  he  went  on  through  Vir- 
ginia ;  here  he  tells  us,  in  places  as  "  unlikely  as  Rome 
itself,"  he  found  societies  of  Christians,  formed  and 
led  on  by  a  wealthy  planter  of  that  colony ;  they  met 
him  in  a  body,  wishing  publicly  to  identify  themselves 
with  him.  " Surely  the  Londoners"  he  writes,  "  who 
are  fed  to  the  full,  will  not  envy  the  poor  souls  in 
these  parts.  I  almost  determine  to  come  back  in  the 
spring  "  from  Georgia  to  them. 

On  one  occasion,  while  he  was  preaching  in  this 
colony,  a  Mr.  Allen,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  em- 
inent Mr.  Davies'  church  at  Hanover,  and  who,  with 
his  family,  "  addicted  himself  to  the  ministry  of  the 
saints,"  fell  on  the  ground  at  full  length,  suddenly,  as 
if  shot  through  the  heart,  and  lay  for  the  remainder  of 
the  evening  as  one  who  was  dead.  His  descendants 
are  now  very  numerous,  and  many  of  them  are  among 
the  most  zealous  Christians  in  that  state. 

From  Virginia,  Whitefield  proceeded  to  South 
Carolina,  and,  Nov.  22,  wrote,  "At  Newbern,  last  Sun- 
day, good  impressions  were  made.  I  have  met  with 
what  they  call  '  New  Lights '  in  almost  every  place, 
and  have  the  names  of  several  of  their  preachers." 
Having  preached  at  Charleston,  he  passed  on  to  Be- 
thesda,  and  had  the  happiness  to  find  the  whole  col- 
ony in  a  prosperous  condition.  Here  he  spent  the 
winter,  and  writes,  "  Peace  and  plenty  reign  at  Be- 


382  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

thesda.  All  things  go  on  successfully.  God  hath 
given  me  great  favor  in  the  sight  of  the  governor, 
council,  and  assembly.  A  memorial  was  presented  for 
an  additional  grant  of  lands,  consisting  of  two  thou- 
sand acres.  It  was  immediately  complied  with.  Both 
houses  addressed  the  governor  on  behalf  of  the  intend- 
ed college.  A  warm  answer  was  given;  and  I  am 
now  putting  every  thing  in  repair,  and  getting  every 
thing  ready  for  that  purpose.  Every  heart  seems  to 
leap  for  joy  at  the  prospect  of  its  future  usefulness  to 
this  and  the  neighboring  colonies.  He  who  holdeth 
the  stars  in  his  right  hand  will  direct,  in  due  time, 
whether  I  shall  directly  embark  for  England,  or  take 
one  tour  more  to  the  northward.  I  am  in  delightful 
winter  quarters  for  once.  His  excellency  dined  with 
me  yesterday,  and  expressed  his  satisfaction  in  the 
warmest  terms.  Who  knows  how  many  youths  may 
be  trained  up  for  the  service  of  the  ever-loving  and 
altogether  lovely  Jesus.  Thus  far,  however,  we  may 
set  up  our  Ebenezer.  Hitherto  the  bush  hath  been 
burning,  but  is  not  consumed."  To  this  statement  he 
adds,  "  Mr.  Wright  hath  done  much  in  a  little  time ; 
but  he  hath  workecT  night  and  day,  and  not  stirred  a 
mile  for  many  weeks.  Thanks  be  to  God,  all  outward 
things  are  settled  on  this  side  the  water.  The  audit- 
ing the  accounts,  and  laying  the  foundation  for  a  col- 
lege, hath  silenced  enemies  and  comforted  friends. 
The  finishing  of  this  affair  confirms  my  call  to  Eng- 
land at  this  time." 

But  the  intense  anxiety  of  multitudes  to  hear  his 
preaching,  prevented  Whitefield  from  leaving  Amer- 
ica for  several  months  longer.  He  had,  indeed,  as 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  383 

early  as  the  middle  of  February,  determined  not  to 
visit  New  England  till  his  return  from  Europe ;  but 
arriving  at  Charleston,  he  was  compelled  to  devote 
to  labors  there  the  whole  month  of  March,  and  then 
set  out  for  Philadelphia,  preaching  at  many  places  on 
his  way.  He  says,  "  All  the  way  from  Charleston  to 
tHis  *place  the  cry  is,  'For  Christ's  sake,  stay  and 
preach  to  us.'  Oh  for  a  thousand  lives  to  spend  for 
Jesus." 

The  heat  of  the  weather  made  it  indispensable  for 
his  health  that  he  should  go  to  sea,  and  July  5th  he 
once  more  arrived  in  England,  on  his  last  return  voy- 
age from  America.  He  says,  "We  have  had  but  a 
twenty-eight  days'  passage.  The  transition  has  been 
so  sudden,  that  I  can  scarcely  believe  that  I  am  in 
England.  I  hope,  ere  long,  to  have  a  more  sudden 
transition  into  a  better  country."  When  he  arrived 
in  his  native  land,  he  was  ill  of  a  nervous  fever, 
which  left  him  extremely  weak  in  body,  and  unable  to 
exert  himself  as  formerly.  Yet,  still  intent  on  his 
work,  he  did  what  he  could,  in  expectation  of  soon 
entering  into  his  eternal  rest.  "  Oh,  to  end  life  well  I" 
he  writes ;  "  methinks  I  have  now  but  one  river  to 
pass  over.  And  we  know  of  One  who  can  carry  us 
over  without  being  ankle  deep." 

On  Whitefield's  arrival  in  England,  he  found  that 
his  excellent  friend  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  was 
erecting  a  large  and  beautiful  church  edifice  in  the 
fashionable  city  of  Bath,  and  to  that  place  he  at  once 
repaired.  There  he  found  several  of  his  clerical 
brethren  preaching  in  the  private  chapel  at  Bretby 
Hall,  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  who  had 


384  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

placed  it  for  the  time  being  at  the  disposal  of  Lady 
Huntingdon.  On  Whitefield's  arrival,  this  place  was 
of  necessity  exchanged  for  the  Park,  where  the  con- 
course of  people  was  as  vast  as  ever. 

October  6,  he  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon 
of  Lady  Huntingdon's  church  at  Bath,  to  an  immense 
crowd.  To  his  friend  Robert  Keen,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
managers  of  his  London  houses,  he  wrote,  "  Could  you 
have  come,  and  have  been  present  at  the  opening  of 
the  chapel,  you  would  have  been  much  pleased.  The 
building  is  extremely  plain,  and  yet  equally  grand. 
A  most  beautiful  original !  All  was  conducted  with 
great  solemnity.  Though  a  wet  day,  the  place  was 
very  full,  and  assuredly  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bish- 
op of  souls  consecrated  and  made  it  holy  ground  by 
his  presence." 

He  made  but  a  short  stay  at  Bath,  and  returned 
to  London,  still  feeble  and  tottering,  but  still  com- 
pelled to  labor.  He  had  an  interview  with  his  old 
friend  John  Wesley ;  who  says  of  him,  "  He  seemed  to 
be  an  old  man,  being  fairly  worn  out  in  his  Master's 
service,  though  he  has  hardly  seen  fifty  years ;  and  yet 
it  pleases  God  that  I,  who  am  now  in  my  sixty-third 
year,  find  no  disorder,  no  weakness,  no  decay,  no  dif- 
ference from  what  I  was  at  five  and  twenty,  only  that 
I  have  fewer  teeth,  and  more  gray  hairs."  Writing 
to  a  friend  at  Sheerness,  in  Kent,  Jan.  18, 1766,  White- 
field  says,  "  I  am  sorry  to  acquaint  you  that  it  is  not 
in  my  power  to  comply  with  your  request,  for  want  of 
more  assistance.  I  am  confined  in  town  with  the  care 
of  two  important  posts,  when  I  am  only  fit  to  be  put 
into  some  garrison  among  invalids."  By  some  means, 


REV.  SAMSON  OCCUM.  385 

however,  he  obtained  a  release,  for  in  March  we  find 
him  at  Bath  and  Bristol.  "Writing,  March  17,  he  says, 
"The  uncertainty  of  rny  motions  has  made  me  slow  in 
writing ;  and  a  desire  to  be  a  while  free  from  London 
cares,  has  made  me  indifferent  about  frequent  hearing 
from  thence.  Last  Friday  evening,  and  twice  yester- 
day, I  preached  at  Bath,  to  very  thronged  and  brilliant 
auditories." 

Whitefield's  interest  in  America  was  not  lessened 
by  his  absence  from  it.  He  ardently  loved  it,  and 
wished  for  the  return  of  its  peace  and  prosperity.  He 
hoped,  with  many  others,  that  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act  would  lead  to  this  result;  hence,  we  find  in  his 
Letter-book  this  entry:  "March  16,  1766,  Stamp  Act 
repealed.  Gloria  Deo." 

Among  the  remarkable  men  of  his  day  was  Sam- 
son Occum.  He  was  descended,  on  his  mother's  side, 
from  Uncas,  chief  of  the  Mohegans.  He  was  born  in 
1723,  of  parents  who  led  a  wandering  life,  depending 
on  hunting  and  fishing  for  subsistence.  None  culti- 
vated their  lands,  all  dwelt  in  wigwams,  and  Samson 
was  one  of  the  very  first  of  the  tribe  who  learned  to 
read.  About  the  year  1740,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he 
was  converted  by  the  labors  of  Whitefield,  Gilbert  Ten- 
nent,  and  their  companions.  In  a  year  or  two  he  had 
learned  to  read  his  Bible  with  ease,  and  to  his  great 
advantage.  He  was  a  pupil  at  the  school  originally 
founded  by  Dr.  Wheelock,  at  Lebanon,  Conn.,  for  the 
benefit  exclusively  of  Indians,  four  years,  and  was 
then  a  teacher  for  eleven  years.  In  1759,  he  was  or- 
dained by  the  Suffolk  Presbytery,  and  became  an  emi- 
nently zealous  preacher  to  the  scattered  Mohegans. 

Whitefield.  1 7 


386  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

In  1766,  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitaker  of 
Norwich,  he  went  to  England  to  advocate  the  cause 
of  Dr.  Wheelock's  Indian  school,  which  school  was 
afterwards  merged  in  Dartmouth  college,  of  which 
Mr.  Wheelock  was  also  founder  and  first  president. 
Occum  preached  in  the  churches  of  Whitefield  and 
Lady  Huntingdon,  as  well  as  in  some  others  of  differ- 
ent denominations.  We  remember  half  a  century  ago 
hearing  an  old  lady  at  Kidderminster,  the  town  of 
Richard  Baxter,  describe  a  scene  which  occurred  in 
Fawcett's  church  in  that  town.  Occum  had  preached, 
and  a  handsome  collection  had  been  taken  for  his 
object ;  with  tears  of  gratitude  and  joy  the  good  man 
thanked  them,  and  in  tones  which  neither  the  weeping 
nor  the  mimetic  talent  of  the  old  lady  would  allow 
her  fully  to  imitate,  assured  them  that  the  blessing  of 
many  ready  to  perish  would  come  upon  them.  The 
place  was  a  Bochim,  and  nothing  could  prevent  the 
people  from  having  the  plates  again  carried  round, 
that  they  might  add  to  the  liberal  contributions  they 
had  already  made. 

Occum  preached  in  Great  Britain  from  three  to 
four  hundred  sermons;  and  as  no  North  American 
Indian  had  ever  preached  in  England  before,  public 
curiosity  was  great,  and  his  pecuniary  success  consid- 
erable. He  brought  to  this  country,  with  his  compan- 
ion, as  the  produce  of  their  labors,  more  than  forty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  In  1772  he  published  an  inter- 
esting sermon  which  he  preached  to  an  Indian  at  his 
execution.  An  excellent  portrait  of  him  was  publish- 
ed in  England. 

Dr.  Timothy  Dwight  writes,  "I  heard  Mr.  Occum 


IN  ENGLAND.  381 

twice.  His  discourses,  though  not  proofs  of  superior 
talents,  were  decent ;  and  his  utterance  in  some  degree 
eloquent.  His  character  at  one  time  labored  under 
some  imputations ;  yet  there  is  good  reason  to  believe 
that  most,  if  not  all  of  them  were  unfounded ;  and 
there  is  satisfactory  evidence  that  he  was  a  man  of 
piety."  An  account  of  the  Montauk  Indians,  written 
by  Occum,  is  preserved  in  the  "Historical  Collec- 
tions." He  died  at  New  Stockbridge,  N.  Y.,  July, 
1792.  It  has  been  said  that  the  first  Sunday-school 
in  these  United  States  was  founded  in  the  house  of 
his  sister,  a  few  months  after  his  death. 

Occum  was  somewhat  of  a  wit,  and  could  well 
apply  his  talent  in  his  conflict  with  the  enemies  of  di- 
vine truth.  He  once  ended  a  long  controversial  con- 
versation with  a  Universalist,  by  saying,  "  Well,  well, 
remember,  if  you  are  correct,  I  am  safe ;  if  you  are  not 
correct,  I  am  safe.  I  have  two  strings  to  my  bow ; 
you  have  but  one." 

In  June,  1766,  we  again  find  Whitefield  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Bristol,  whence  he  writes,  "  As  my 
feverish  heat  continues,  and  the  weather  is  too  wet  to 
travel,  I  have  complied  with  the  advice  of  friends, 
and  have  commenced  a  Hot-wells  water  drinker  twice 
a  day.  However,  twice  this  week,  at  six  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  I  have  been  enabled  to  call  thirsty  souls 
to  come  and  '  drink  of  the  water  of  life  freely.'  To- 
morrow evening,  God  willing,  the  call  is  to  be  repeat- 
ed, and  again  on  Sunday."  On  his  return  to  London, 
he  writes,  under  date  of  September  25,  "Many  in  this 
metropolis  seem  to  be  on  the  wing  for  God ;  the  shout 
of  a  king  is  yet  heard  in  the  Methodist  camp.  Had 


388  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

I  wings,  I  would  gladly  fly  from  pole  to  pole  ;  but 
they  are  clipped  by  thirty  years'  feeble  labors.  Twice 
or  thrice  a  week  I  am  permitted  to  ascend  my  gospel 
throne.  The  love  of  Christ,  I  am  persuaded,  will 
constrain  you  to  pray  that  the  last  glimmering  of  an 
expiring  taper  may  be  blessed  to  the  guiding  of  many 
wandering  souls  to  the  Lamb  of  God." 

The  good  providence  of  God  now  gave  Whitefield 
a  colleague  in  the  ministry  at  the  Tabernacle  and 
Tottenham  Court-road  chapel,  the  Rev.  Torial  Joss. 
This  gentleman  had  spent  many  years  as  captain  at 
sea  j  converted  by  divine  grace,  and  filled  with  holy 
zeal,  he  devoted  his  popular  talents  to  the  welfare  of 
his  fellow-men,  preaching  both  on  sea  and  land.  In  a 
remarkable  manner,  Mr.  Whitefield  became  acquaint- 
ed with  him,  and,  without  his  knowledge,  published 
that  he  would  preach  in  his  houses  of  worship,  which, 
though  with  extreme  reluctance,  Joss  did.  These 
services  were  often  renewed,  and  Whitefield  gave  him 
no  rest  till  he  abandoned  the  sea,  and  devoted  himself 
to  the  ministry.  Everywhere  he  was  popular,  and 
everywhere  useful.  He  continued  minister  of  the  two 
places  in  London — spending  four  or  five  months  in 
each  year  travelling  and  preaching — for  twenty-seven 
years  after  the  death  of  his  friend,  and  then  departed 
from  earth,  in  1797,  in  holy  triumph,  in  the  66th  year 
of  his  age. 

One  of  the  most  extraordinary  men  in  modern 
times  was  the  late  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  who  erected 
Surrey  chapel,  London,  and  continued  to  preach  in  it 
till  his  death,  in  his  eighty-ninth. year,  in  1833.  He 
was  eminently  dignified  in  person,  possessed  extraor- 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  389 

dinary  zeal,  and  was  honored  by  his  great  Master 
with  probably  more  success  in  the  direct  work  of  sav- 
ing souls  than  any  other  minister  of  his  day.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  rank,  his  father  being  a 
gentleman  of  title,  one  of  his  brothers  a  member  of 
Parliament  for  many  years,  representing  his  native 
county,  and  the  late  eminent  statesman  and  soldier 
Lord  Hill  was  his  nephew.  Mr.  Hill  himself  in  early 
life  became  a  Christian,  and  was  educated  for  the 
ministry  in  the  established  church,  but  violated  its 
rules,  and  preached  wherever  he  could;  for  many 
years  he  was  greatly  persecuted  by  his  own  family, 
some  of  whom,  however,  in  the  end  sustained  the  yoke 
of  Christ.  When  Rowland  began  his  somewhat  er- 
ratic career,  the  opposition  from  his  father  was  so 
great,  that  he  was  reduced  sometimes  to  extreme  pov- 
erty; and  he  was  exactly  the  man  to  be  encouraged 
by  such  men  as  Whitefield  and  Berridge.  We  give  a 
few  extracts  from  letters  addressed  to  him  by  White- 
field,  which  certainly  show  no  small  degree  of  ardor, 
though  we  cannot  see  in  them  what  Hill's  clerical 
biographer,  Mr.  Sidney,  professed  to  find,  "an  aspi- 
ration after  the  honors,  when  he  had  no  prospect  of 
the  sufferings  of  martyrdom."  The  fact  was,  that 
Mr.  Sidney  was  offended  with  Whitefield,  as  he  was 
with  his  venerable  uncle,  Mr.  Hill,  for  having  deviated 
from  the  rigid  laws  of  the  establishment.  It  is  only 
needful  to  introduce  the  first  letter  by  saying  that  it 
was  dated,  London,  December  27,  1766,  and  was  sent 
in  answer  to  one  in  which  Mr.  Hill  had  asked  his 
counsel. 

"  About  thirty-four  years  ago,  the  master  of  Pern- 


390  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

broke  college,  where  I  was  educated,  took  me  to  task 
for  visiting  the  sick  and  going  to  the  prisons.  In  my 
haste  I  said,  *  Sir,  if  it  displeaseth  you  I  will  go  no 
more.'  My  heart  smote  me  immediately ;  I  repented, 
and  went  again ;  he  heard  of  it — threatened — but  for 
fear  he  should  be  looked  on  as  a  persecutor,  let  me 
alone.  The  hearts  of  all  are  in  the  Redeemer's  hands. 
I  would  not  have  you  give  way ;  no,  not  for  a  mo- 
ment. The  storm  is  too  great  to  hold  long.  Visiting 
the  sick  and  imprisoned,  and  instructing  the  ignorant, 
are  the  very  vitals  of  true  and  undefiled  religion.  If 
threatened,  denied  degree,  or  expelled  for  this,  it  will 
be  the  best  degree  you  can  take — a  glorious  prepara- 
tive for,  and  a  blessed  presage  of  future  usefulness. 
I  have  seen  the  dreadful  consequences  of  giving  way 
and  looking  back.  How  many  by  this  wretched  cow- 
ardice, and  fear  of  the  cross,  have  been  turned  into 
pillars,  not  of  useful,  but  of  useless  salt.  Now  is  your 
time  to  prove  the  strength  of  Jesus  yours.  If  opposi- 
tion did  not  so  much  abound,  your  consolations  would 
not  so  abound.  Blind  as  he  is,  Satan  sees  some  great 
good  coming  on.  We  never  prospered  so  much  at 
Oxford  as  when  we  were  hissed  at  and  reproached  as 
we  walked  along  the  streets,  as  being  counted  the 
dung  and  offscouring  of  all  things.  That  is  a  poor 
building  which  a  little  stinking  breath  of  Satan's  vas- 
sals can  throw  down.  Your  house,  I  trust,  is  better 
founded.  Is  it  not  built  upon  a  rock  ?  Is  not  that 
rock  the  blessed  Jesus  ?  The  gates  of  hell,  therefore, 
shall  not  be  able  to  prevail  against  it.  Go  on,  there- 
fore, my  dear  man,  go  on.  Old  Berridge,  I  believe, 
would  give  you  the  same  advice ;  you  are  honored  in 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  391 

sharing  his  reproach  and  name.  God  be  praised  that 
you  are  enabled  to  bless  when  others  blaspheme.  God 
bless  and  direct  and  support  you.  He  will,  he  will. 
Good  Lady  Huntingdon  is  in  town ;  she  will  rejoice  to 
hear  that  you  are  under  the  cross.  You  will  not  want 
her  prayers,  or  the  poor  prayers  of,  my  dear  honest 
young  friend,  yours,  in  an  all-conquering  Jesus." 

The  opposition  Mr.  Hill  met  with  from  his  par- 
ents increased,  and  the  threat  of  his  degree  being 
withheld,  was,  on  the  part  of  the  university  author- 
ities, more  determined ;  still,  however,  he  persevered 
in  his  preaching  and  his  visits,  in  violation  of  the  laws 
of  discipline.  In  June,  1767,  Mr.  Whitefield  wrote 
him :  "  I  wish  you  joy  of  the  late  high  dignity  con- 
ferred upon  you — higher  than  if  you  were  made  the 
greatest  professor  in  the  university  of  Cambridge. 
The  honorable  degrees  you  intend  giving  to  your 
promising  candidates,  [allowing  some  of  his  fellow- 
students  to  preach  in  the  various  places  which  he  had 
visited,]  I  trust  will  excite  a  holy  ambition,  and  a 
holy  emulation;  let  me  know  who  is  first  honored. 
As  I  have  been  admitted  to  the  degree  of  doctor  for 
near  these  thirty  years,  I  assure  you  I  like  my  field 
preferment,  my  airy  pluralities,  exceedingly  well. 
For  these  three  weeks  last  past  I  have  been  beating  up 
for  fresh  recruits  in  Gloucestershire  and  South  Wales. 
Thousands  and  thousands  attended,  and  good  Lady 
Huntingdon  was  present  at  one  of  our  reviews.  Her 
ladyship's  aid-de-camp  preached  in  Brecknock-street, 
and  Captain  Scott,  that  glorious  field-officer,  lately 
fixed  up  his  standard  upon  dear  Mr.  Fletcher's  horse- 
block at  Madeley.  Being  invited  thither,  I  have  a  great 


392  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

inclination  to  lift  up  the  Redeemer's  ensign  next  week 
in  the  same  place ;  with  what  success,  you  and  your 
dearly  beloved  candidates  for  good  old  methodistical 
contempt  shall  know  hereafter.  God  willing,  I  intend 
fighting  my  way  up  to  town.  Soon  after  my  arrival 
there,  I  hope  thousands  and  thousands  of  volleys  of 
prayers,  energetic,  effectual,  fervent,  heaven-besieging, 
heaven-opening,  heaven-taking  prayers,  shall  be  poured 
forth  for  you  all.  Oh,  my  dearly  beloved  and  longed- 
for  in  the  Lord,  my  bowels  yearn  towards  you.  Fear 
not  to  go  without  the  camp ;  keep  open  the  correspon- 
dence between  the  two  universities.  Remember  the 
praying  legions — they  were  never  known  to  yield. 
God  bless  those  that  are  gone  to  their  respective 
cures — I  say  not  livings,  a  term  of  too  modern  date. 
Christ  is  our  life ;  Christ  is  the  Levite's  inheritance, 
and  Christ  will  be  the  true  disinterested  Levite's  lot 
and  portion  and  all.  Greet  your  dear  young  com- 
panions whom  I  saw ;  they  are  welcome  to  write 
when  they  please.  God  be  your  physician  under  your 
bodily  malady.  A  thorn,  a  thorn !  but  Christ's  grace 
will  be  sufficient  for  you.  To  his  tender,  never-failing 
mercy  I  commit  you." 

A  few  weeks  after  this,  Mr.  Hill  was  much  de- 
pressed in  spirits,  partly  from  bodily  illness,  partly 
because  he  was  about  to  leave  Cambridge  and  its  sur- 
rounding villages,  where  he  had  latterly  so  frequently 
preached,  but  chiefly  from  the  fact  that  he  was  going 
home,  where  he  would  again  meet  the  frowns  of  his 
honored  parents,  for  what  they  deemed  his  overright- 
eousness.  In  the  midst  of  all  this,  however,  he  knew 
that  he  would  meet  at  Hawkstone,  his  father's  resi- 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  393 

dence,  the  cordial  welcome  of  his  sister  and  elder 
brother,  Richard  Hill,  afterwards  a  baronet.  This 
gentleman  had  lately  become  a  village  preacher  and  a 
visitor  of  prisons,  like  his  brother.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances he  was  addressed  by  Whitefield,  in  his 
own  peculiar  and  energetic  style :  "  What  said  our 
Lord  to  Martha  ?  '  Did  I  not  say  unto  thee,  If  thou 
wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldst  see  the  glory  of  God  ?' 
Blessed,  for  ever  blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  what  he  hath  done  for  your 
dear  brother.  A  preaching,  prison-preaching,  field- 
preaching  esquire,  strikes  more  than  all  the  black 
gowns  and  lawn  sleeves  in  the  world.  And  if  I  am 
not  mistaken,  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls 
will  let  the  world,  and  his  own  children  too,  know 
that  he  will  not  be  prescribed  to  in  respect  to  men, 
or  garbs,  or  places ;  much  less  will  he  be  confined  to 
any  order  or  set  of  men  under  heaven.  I  wish  you 
both  much,  very  much  prosperity.  You  will  have  it — 
you  will  have  it.  This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it.  Both 
Tabernacle  and  [Tottenham  Court-road]  chapel  pul- 
pits shall  be  open  to  a  captain  or  an  esquire  sent  of 
God.  The  good  news  from  Oxford  is  encouraging. 
Say  what  they  will,  preaching  should  be  one  part  of 
the  education  of  a  student  in  divinity.  I  pray  for 
you  night  and  day." 

On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Hill  at  his  father's  beautiful 
seat,  it  was  his  happiness  to  find  that  his  brother 
Brian,  afterwards  useful  as  a  clergyman,  was  added 
to  the  number  of  believers  in  Christ ;  he  learned  also, 
that  one  of  his  college  friends  had  been  threatened  to 
have  an  exhibition,  or  yearly  gift  towards  his  univer- 
17* 


394  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

sity  expenses,  withdrawn,  unless  he  renounced  his  evan- 
gelical doctrines  and  practices.  The  reader  will  now 
understand  Mr.  Whitefield's  letter  :  "  I  have  been 
sadly  hindered  from  answering  your  last  letter,  deliv- 
ered to  me  by  your  brother.  I  gave  it  him  to  read, 
and  we  had,  I  trust,  a  profitable  conference.  God  be 
praised  if  another  of  your  brothers  is  gained.  What 
grace  is  this !  Four  or  five  out  of  one  family — it  is 
scarcely  to  be  paralleled.  Who  knows  but  the  root, 
as  well  as  the  branches,  may  be  taken  by  and  by? 
Abba,  Father,  all  things  are  possible  with  thee ! 
Steadiness  and  perseverance  in  the  children  will  be 
one  of  the  best  means,  under  God,  of  convincing  the 
parents.  This  present  opposition  I  think  cannot  last 
very  long ;  if  it  does,  to  obey  God  rather  than  man, 
when  forbidden  to  do  what  is  undoubted  duty,  is  the 
invariable  rule.  Our  dear  Penty  [afterwards  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Pentycross]  is  under  the  cross  at  Cam- 
bridge. But 

" '  Satan  thwarts,  and  men  object, 
Yet  the  thing  they  thwart  effect.' 

I  should  be  glad  if  any  one's  exhibition  was  taken 
from  him  for  visiting  the  sick,  etc.  It  would  vastly 
tend  to  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel ;  but  Satan  sees 
too  far,  I  imagine,  to  play  such  a  game  now.  Let 
him  do  his  work  ;  he  is  only  a  mastiff  chained.  Con- 
tinue to  inform  me  how  he  barks,  and  how  far  he  is 
permitted  to  go  in  your  parts ;  and  God's  people 
shall  be  more  stirred  up  to  pray  for  you  all." 

The  close  of  Mr.  Hill's  life  was  .truly  interesting 
and  instructive.  As  has  been  intimated,  he  preached 
with  scarcely  diminished  power  until  within  a  few 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL/  395 

weeks  of  his  death.  During  the  last  two  or  three 
years  of  his  life  he  very  frequently  repeated  the  fol- 
lowing lines  of  an  old  poet : 

"  And  when  I  'm  to  die, 

Receive  me,  1 11  cry, 
For  Jesus  has  loved  me,  I  cannot  tell  why ; 

But  this  I  can  find, 

We  two  are  so  joined, 
That  he  '11  not  be  in  glory,  and  leave  me  behind." 

"  The  last  time  he  occupied  my  pulpit,"  writes  his 
neighbor,  the  Rev.  George  Clayton,  "  when  he  preach- 
ed excellently  for  an  hour,  .in  behalf  of  a  charitable 
institution,  he  retired  to  the  vestry  after  service  under 
feelings  of  great  and  manifest  exhaustion.  Here  he 
remained  until  every  individual  except  the  pew-open- 
ers, his  servant,  and  myself  had  left  the  place.  At 
length  he  seemed  with  some  reluctance  to  summon 
energy  enough  to  take  his  departure,  intimating  that 
it  was  in  all  probability  the  last  time  he  should  preach 
in  Walworth.  His  servant  went  before  to  open  the 
carriage-door,  the  pew-openers  remaining  in  the  ves- 
try. I  offered  my  arm,  which  he  declined,  and  then 
followed  him  as  he  passed  down  the  aisle  of  the 
chapel.  The  lights  were  nearly  extinguished,  the 
silence  was  profound,  nothing  indeed  was  heard  but 
the  slow  majestic  tread  of  his  own  footsteps,  when,  in 
an  undertone,  he  thus  soliloquized : 

" '  And  when  I  'm  to  die,'  etc. 

To  my  heart  this  was  a  scene  of  unequalled  solemnity, 
nor  can  I  ever  recur  to  it  without  a  revival  of  that 
hallowed,  sacred,  shuddering  sympathy  which  it  orig- 
inally awakened." 


396  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

When  the  good  old  saint  lay  literally  dying,  and 
when  apparently  unconscious,  a  friend  put  his  mouth 
close  to  his  ear,  and  repeated  slowly  his  favorite  lines  r 

"And  when  I'm  to  die,"  etc. 

The  light  came  back  to  his  fast-fading  eye,  a  smilo 
overspread  his  face,  and  his  lips  moved  in  the  ineffec 
tual  attempt  to  articulate  the  words.  This  was  the 
last  sign  of  consciousness  which  he  gave. 

We  could  almost  wish  that  every  disciple  of  Christ 
would  commit  these  lines,  quaint  as  they  are,  to  mem- 
ory, and  weave  them  into  the  web  of  his  Christian 
experience.  Confidence  in  Christ,  and  undeviating 
adherence  to  him,  can  alone  enable  us  to  triumph  in 
life  and  death. 

In  November,  1766,  Whitefield  again  visited  Bath 
and  Bristol,  and  then  passed  on  to  Gloucestershire 
and  Oxford.  Never  did  so  many  of  the  nobility  attend 
his  ministry  as  he  now  saw  at  Bath,  and  the  results  of 
his  whole  journey  were  such  as  to  fill  him  with  the 
most  devout  gratitude.  He  saw  too  the  number  of 
his  clerical  friends  largely  increasing,  and  especially 
rejoiced  in  the  fact  that  the  excellent  Fletcher,  of 
Madeley,  preached  in  his  pulpits  in  London.  He  writes 
of  this  event,  "  Dear  Mr.  Fletcher  has  become  a  scan- 
dalous Tottenham  Court  preacher.  .  .  .  Were  we 

more  scandalous,  more  good  would  be  done 

Still,  '  the  shout  of  a  king  is  yet  heard '  in  the  Meth- 
odist camp." 

In  January,  1767,  Whitefield  wrote  a  recommend- 
atory preface  to  the  works  of  John  Bunyan,  whom  he 
pleasantly  designated,  "  Bishop  Bunyan ;"  and  as  soon 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  397 

as  the  weather  would  permit,  we  find  him  at  Norwich, 
and  then  at  Rodborough,  Woodstock,  Gloucester, 
and  Haverfordwest,  from  which  last  place  hje  wrote, 
"Thousands  and  thousands  attend,  by  eight  in  the 
morning.  Life  and  light  seem  to  fly  all  around.7'  On 
a  second  visit  to  Gloucester  on  this  tour,  he  wrote, 
"Blessed  be  God,  I  have  got  on  this  side  the  Welsh 
mountains.  Blessed  be  God,  I  have  been  on  the  other 
side.  What  a  scene  last  Sunday!  What  a  cry  for 
more  of  the  bread  of  life !  But  I  was  quite  worn 
down." 

In  September  following,  he  again  visited  the  north 
of  England,  writing  from  day  to  day  in  high  spirits. 
September  28,  he  says,  "My  body  feels  much  fatigued 
in  travelling ;  comforts  in  the  soul  overbalance  ;"  and 
from  Leeds,  October  3,  he  writes,  "Field  and  street 
preaching  have  rather  bettered  than  hurt  my  bodily 
health." 

Whitefield  now  returned  to  London,  to  sustain  a 
heavy  disappointment.  The  negotiations  relative  to 
the  college  at  Bethesda  were  this  winter  brought  to  an 
issue.  A  memorial  addressed  to  his  Majesty  was  put 
into  the  hands  of  the  clerk  of  the  Privy  Council,  set- 
ting forth  the  great  utility  of  a  college  in  that  place 
to  the  southern  provinces  ;  and  praying  that  a  charter 
might  be  granted  upon  the  plan  of  the  college  in  New 
Jersey.  This  memorial  was  transmitted  by  the  clerk 
of  the  Privy  Council  to  the  lord  president,  and  by  his 
lordship  referred  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
to  whom  also  a  draft  of  an  intended  charter  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth.  A  correspondence 
followed  all  this  between  the  archbishop  and  White- 


898  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

field;  the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  his  grace 
gave  the  draft  of  the  college  to  the  lord  president, 
who  promised  he  would  consider  of  it ;  and  gave  it  as 
his  opinion  that  "  the  head  of  the  college  ought  to  be 
a  member  of  the  church  of  England ;  that  this  was  a 
qualification  not  to  be  dispensed  with ;  and  also,  that 
the  public  prayers  should  not  be  extempore  ones,  but 
the  liturgy  of  the  church,  or  some  other  settled  and 
established  form."  Whitefield  replied  that  these  re- 
strictions he  could  by  no  means  agree  to,  because  the 
greatest  part  of  the  contributions  for  the  orphan-house 
came  from  Protestant  dissenters ;  and  because  he  had 
constantly  declared  that  the  intended  college  should 
be  founded  upon  a  broad  foundation,  and  no  other. 

"  This,"  said  he,  "  I  judged  I  was  sufficiently  war- 
ranted to  do,  from  the  known,  long-established,  mild, 
and  uncoercive  genius  of  the  British  government ;  also 
from  your  grace's  moderation  towards  Protestant  dis- 
senters; from  the  unconquerable  attachment  of  the 
Americans  to  toleration  principles,  as  well  as  from 
the  avowed  habitual  feelings  of  my  own  heart.  This 
being  the  case,  and  as  your  grace,  by  your  silence, 
seems  to  be  like-minded  with  the  lord  president ;  and 
as  your  grace's  and  his  lordship's  influence  will  un- 
doubtedly extend  itself  to  others,  I  would  beg  leave, 
after  returning  all  due  acknowledgments,  to  inform 
your  grace  that  I  intend  troubling  your  grace  and  his 
lordship  no  more  about  this  so  long  depending  con- 
cern. As  it  hath  pleased  the  great  Head  of  the 
church  in  some  degree  to  renew  my  bodily  strength, 
I  propose  now  to  renew  my  feeble  efforts,  and  to  turn 
the  charity  into  a  more  generous,  and  consequently 


IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.  399 

into  a  more  useful  channel.  I  have  no  ambition  to 
be  looked  upon  as  the  founder  of  a  college;  but  I 
would  fain  act  the  part  of  an  honest  man,  a  disinter- 
ested minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  true,  catholic, 
moderate  presbyter  of  the  church  of  England." 

Thus  ended  Whitefield's  labors  to  establish  a  col- 
lege at  Bethesda.  Berridge,  and  not  a  few  others  of 
his  friends  rather  rejoiced  in  his  disappointment,  as 
they  thought  there  was  some  fear,  uncontrolled  as  the 
institution  might  hereafter  be  by  men  of  established 
principles  of  piety,  that  an  unconverted  ministry  might 
be  increased  by  its  means. 


400  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER  XV.  -^ 

niS  LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN— COLLEGE 
AT  TREVECCA— EARL  OF  BUCHAN  —  TUNBRIDGE 
WELLS. 

1767-1769. 

WHITEFIELD  had  abandoned  the  idea  of  a  charter 
for  a  college  at  present,  but  he  was  yet  ardently  desir- 
ous of  a  public  academy  being  added  to  his  orphan- 
house,  similar  to  what  existed  at  Philadelphia  before 
a  college  charter  was  granted.  He  thought  that  if 
this  could  be  done,  a  better  day  might  arrive,  when  a 
charter  on  broad  principles  might  be  obtained.  He 
developed  his  whole  plan  in  a  letter  to  Governor 
Wright.  Feeling  too  the  uncertainty  of  life,  he  wrote 
to  his  friend  Mr.  Keen,  "  None  but  God  knows  what  a 
concern  is  upon  me  now,  in  respect  of  Bethesda.  As 
another  voyage,  perhaps,  may  be  the  issue  and  the 
result  of  all  at  last,  I  would  beg  you  and  my  dear 

Mr.  H to  let  me  have  all  my  papers  and  letters, 

that  I  may  revise  and  dispose  of  them  in  a  proper 
manner.  This  can  do  no  hurt,  come  life  or  come 
death." 

October  28th,  1767,  Whitefield  preached  at  the  Lon- 
don Tabernacle  before  the  society  for  promoting  re- 
ligious knowledge  among  the  poor,  usually  called,  The 
Book  Society.  This  society  had  been  organized  seven- 
teen years  before  this  period,  and  included  in  it  such 
men  as  Watts,  Doddridge,  and  Gilford.  He  gave 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         401 

way  to  all  the  zeal  of  his  heart  while  he  discussed  the 
petition,  "Thy  kingdom  come."  Luke  11:2.  The 
congregation  was  immense,  many  had  to  go  away 
unable  to  obtain  admittance.  It  was  believed  that  a 
larger  number  of  dissenting  ministers  were  present 
than  'ever  bvefore  heard  a  sermon  from  an  Episcopal 
minister,  and  the  collection  reached  more  than  five 
hundred  dollars,  or  above  four  times  the  usual  amount, 
besides  eighty  new  annual  subscribers.  After  the 
service,  he  dined  with  a  very  large  party,  including  the 
ministers,  where  harmony  reigned,  and  much  respect 
was  shown  him. 

It  may  be  readily  supposed,  that  with  advancing 
years  and  increasing  experience,  some  changes  might 
have  taken  place  both  in  the  style  and  manner  of 
Whitefield's  preaching.  The  Rev.  Cornelius  Winter, 
who  had  become  somewhat  closely  associated  with  him, 
says,  "  He  dealt  more  in  the  explanatory  and  doctrinal 
mode  on  the  Sabbath  morning  than  at  any  other  time, 
and  sometimes  made  a  little,  but  by  no  means  an  im- 
proper show  of  learning.  His  afternoon  sermon  was 
more  general  and  exhortatory.  In  the  evening,  he 
drew  his  bow  at  a  venture  ;  vindicated  the  doctrines 
of  grace,  fenced  them  with  articles  and  homilies,  refer- 
red to  the  martyr's  seal,  and  exemplified  the  power  of 
divine  grace  by  quotations  from  the  venerable  Foxe. 
Sinners  were  then  closely  plied,  numbers  of  whom, 
from  curiosity,  coming  to  hear  for  a  minute  or  two, 
were  often  compelled  to  hear  the  whole  sermon.  How 
many  in  the  judgment-day  will  rise  to  prove  that  they 
heard  to  the  salvation  of  the  soul.  Upon  the  mem- 
bers of  society,  the  practice  of  Christianity  was  then 


402  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

usually  inculcated,  not  without  some  pertinent  anec- 
dote of  a  character  worthy  to  be  held  up  for  an  exam- 
ple, and  in  whose  conduct  the  hints  recommended 
were  exemplified.  On  Mondays,  Tuesdays,  Wednes- 
days, and  Thursdays,  he  preached  at  six  in  the  morn- 
ing ;  and  never,  perhaps,  did  he  preach  greater  ser- 
mons than  at  this  hour."  This,  with  the  frequent 
administration  of  the  Lord's  supper  to  hundreds  of 
communicants,  was  his  usual  plan  for  several  years  ; 
but  now  he  became  more  colloquial  in  his  style,  with 
but  little  action  ;  he  gave  pertinent  expositions  of  the 
Scriptures,  with  striking  remarks,  all  comprehended 
within  an  hour.  Winter  adds,  "  The  peculiar  talents 
he  possessed,  subservient  to  great  usefulness,  can  be 
but  faintly  conceived  from  his  sermons  in  print ; 
though,  as  formerly,  God  has  made  the  reading  of 
them  useful,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  in  future  they 
will  have  their  use." 

But  even  yet  our  evangelist  had  to  engage  in  war. 
The  opposition  of  the  universities  in  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge to  the  principles  and  practices  introduced  by 
Whitefield,  Wesley,  and  their  companions,  grew  and 
strengthened,  till  an  event  occurred  at  Oxford  singu- 
larly remarkable  in  its  history  for  opposition  to  evan- 
gelical religion,  which  for  many  years  continued  to 
excite  very  extraordinary  interest.  The  London  "St. 
James'  Chronicle,"  of  Thursday,  March  17,  1763,  con- 
tained the  following  "extract  of  a  letter  from  Oxford:" 
"  On  Friday  last,  six  students,  belonging  to  Edmund 
Hall,  were  expelled  the  university,  after  a  hearing  of 
several  hours  before  Mr.  Vice- Chancellor  and  some 
of  the  heads  of  houses,  for  holding  methodistical 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         403 

tenets,  and  taking  upon  them  to  pray,  read,  and  ex- 
pound the  Scriptures,  and  singing  hymns  in  a  private 

house.     The of  the [The  Principal  of  the 

Edmund  Hall,  Rev.  Dr.  Dixon]  defended  their  doc- 
trines from  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  of  the  established 
church,  and  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  piety 
and  exemplariness  of  their  lives  ;  but  his  motion  was 
overruled,  and  sentence  pronounced  against  them. 

Dr. ,  [Dixon,]  one  of  the  heads  of  houses  present, 

observed,  that  as  these  six  gentlemen  were  expelled  for 
having  too  much  religion,  it  would  be  very  proper  to 
inquire  into  the  conduct  of  some  who  had  too  little  ; 

and  Mr. [Dr.  Nowell]  was  heard  to  tell  their 

chief  accuser,  that  the  university  was  much  obliged  to 
him  for  his  good  work." 

To  detail  the  events  which  followed  this  extraor- 
dinary act,  and  to  describe  the  excitement  thus  cre- 
ated, form  no  part  of  the  design  of  our  volume. 
We  have  referred  to  the  fact  because  Mr.  Whitefield 
and  his  friend  Sir  Richard  Hill  took  part  in  the  con- 
troversy. Referring  to  Dr.  Nowell's  assertion  to 
Mr.  Higson,  their  "  chief  accuser,"  and  who  was  also 
their  tutor,  that  the  university  was  obliged  to  him, 
Whitefield  says  to  the  Vice- Chancellor, "  What  thanks, 
reverend  sir,  he  may  meet  with  from  the  whole  uni- 
versity I  know  not;  but  one  thing  I  know,  namely, 
that  he  will  receive  no  thanks  for  that  day's  work 
from  the  innumerable  company  of  angels,  the  general 
assembly  of  the  first-born  which  are  written  in  heav- 
en, or  from  God  the  Judge  of  all,  in  that  day  when 
Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant  shall  come  in 
his  own  glory,  in  the  glory  of  the  Father  and  his  holy 


404  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

angels,  and  gather  his  elect  from  all  the  four  corners 
of  the  world. 

"  It  is  true,  indeed,  one  article  of  impeachment 
was,  that  '  some  of  them  were  of  trades  before  they 
entered  into  the  university.'  But  what  evil  or  crime 
worthy  of  expulsion  can  there  be  in  that?  To  be 
called  from  any,  though  the  meanest  mechanical  em- 
ployment, to  the  study  of  the  liberal  arts,  where  a 
natural  genius  hath  been  given,  was  never  yet  looked 
upon  as  a  reproach  to,  or  diminution  of  any  great  and 
public  character  whatsoever.  Profane  history  affords 
us  a  variety  of  examples  of  the  greatest  heroes,  who 
have  been  fetched  even  from  the  plough  to  command 
armies,  and  who  performed  the  greatest  exploits  for 
their  country's  good.  And  if  we  examine  sacred  his- 
tory, we  shall  find  that  even  David,  after  he  was 
anointed  king,  looked  back  with  sweet  complacency 
to  the  rock  from  whence  he  was  hewn,  and  is  not 
ashamed  to  leave  it  upon  record,  that  God  took  him 
away  from  the  sheepfolds,  as  he  was  following  the 
ewes  great  with  young ;  and,  as  though  he  loved  to 
repeat  it,  he  took  him,  he  says,  '  that  he  might  feed 
Jacob  his  people,  and  Israel  his  inheritance.' 

"But  why  speak  I  of  David,  when  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth, David's  Lord  and  David's  King,  had  for  his 
reputed  father  a  carpenter?  and  in  all  probability, 
as  it  was  a  common  proverb  among  the  Jews,  that '  he 
who  did  not  teach  his  son  a  trade,  taught  him  to  be  a 
thief,'  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  himself. 
For  this,  indeed,  he  was  reproached  and  maligned: 
*  Is  not  this,'  said  they,  '  the  carpenter's  son  ?'  Nay, 
'  Is  not  this  the  carpenter  ?'  But  who  were  these  ma- 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         405 

ligners  ?  The  greatest  enemies  to  the  power  of  god- 
liness which  the  world  ever  saw,  the  scribes  and  Phar- 
isees, that '  generation  of  vipers,'  as  John  the  Baptist 
calls  them,  who,  upon  every  occasion,  were  spitting 
out  their  venom,  and  shooting  their  arrows,  even  bit- 
ter words,  against  that  Son  of  man,  even  that  Son  of 
God  who,  to  display  his  sovereignty,  and  confound 
the  wisdom  of  the  worldly  wise,  chose  poor  fishermen 
to  be  his  apostles ;  and  whose  chief  of  the  apostles, 
though  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  both  be- 
fore and  after  his  call  to  the  apostleship,  labored  with 
his  own  hands,  and  worked  at  the  trade  of  a  tent- 
maker." 

It  is  pleasant  to  know  that  the  young  men  thus 
expelled  became  useful  in  the  church  of  Christ.  One 
of  them,  indeed,  Erasmus  Middleton,  who  had  been 
sustained  at  Oxford  by  Mr.  Fuller,  a  dissenter  and 
banker  in  London,  was  ordained  in  Ireland  by  the 
bishop  of  Down,  and  having  married  a  lady  of  the 
ducal  family  of  Gordon,  in  Scotland,  was  curate  suc- 
cessively to  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Romaine  and  Cadogan 
in  London,  and  finally  rector  of  Turvey,  in  Bedford- 
shire, where  he  was  the  immediate  predecessor  of  the 
sainted  Legh  Richmond. 

Many  delightful  evidences  yet  exist  that  as  White- 
field  drew  nearer  the  end  of  his  career  on  earth,  his 
holy  zeal  increased,  rather  than  lessened.  We  have 
lying  before  us  three  of  his  letters,  not  included  either 
in  the  collection  of  his  printed  correspondence,  or  in 
the  lives  which  have  been  published.  The  first  was 
addressed  to  a  gentleman  at  Wisbeach,  and  appears 
to  have  been  written  from  London.  It  is  dated  Sept. 
25,  1766. 


406  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

"  DEAK  Sm — As  your  letter  breathes  the  spirit  of 
a  sincere  follower  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  I  ain  sorry 
that  it  hath  lain  by  so  long  unanswered;  but  bodily 
weakness,  and  a  multiplicity  of  correspondents,  both 
from  abroad  and  at  home,  must  be  pleaded  as  excuses. 
'Blessed  be  God,  our  salvation  is  nearer  than  when 
we  believed.7  It  should  seem  that  you  have  now 
served  three  apprenticeships  in  Christ's  school,  and 
yet  I  suppose  the  language  of  your  heart  is,  'I  love 
my  Master,  and  will  not  go  from  him  ;'  and  Oh,  what 
a  mercy,  that  whom  Jesus  loves,  he  loves  to  the  endl 
Do  you  not  begin  to  long  to  see  him  more  than  ever? 
Do  you  not  groan  in  this  tabernacle,  being  burdened  ? 
Courage,  courage ;  he  that  cometh  will  come,  and  will 
not  tarry.  Oh  that  patience  may  have  its  perfect 
work!  Many  in  this  metropolis  seem  to  be  on  the 
wing  for  God;  the  shout  of  a  king  is  yet  heard  in 
the  Methodist  camp.  Had  I  wings,  I  would  gladly 
fly  from  pole  to  pole  ;  but  they  are  clipped  by  thirty 
years'  feeble  labors.  Twice  or  thrice  a  week  I  am 
permitted  to  ascend  my  gospel  throne.  The  love  of 
Christ,  I  am  persuaded,  will  constrain  you  to  pray 
that  the  last  glimmering  of  an  expiring  taper  may 
be  blessed  to  the  guiding  of  many  wandering  souls  to 
the  Lamb  of  God." 

The  second  letter  was  written  from  the  same  city, 
February  12,  in  the  following  year,  and  was  addressed 
to  Captain  Scott,  a  military  officer  then  "quartered 
at  Leicester."  This  gentleman,  in  early  life,  had  been 
much  devoted  to  the  gayeties  of  fashionable  society ; 
long  after  he  had  entered  the  army,  he  was  converted 
to  God,  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  W.  Romaine ; 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         407 

and  a  few  weeks  before  Mr.  Whitefield  addressed  to 
Liin  this  letter,  he  had  begun  to  preach  the  grand  mes- 
sage of  reconciliation.  He  afterwards  left  the  army, 
was  ordained  as  a  Congregational  minister,  and  la- 
bored for  many  years  in  almost  innumerable  places 
in  city  and  country,  with  abundant  success. 

"What,  not  answer  so  modest  a  request,  namely, 
to  snatch  a  few  moments  to  send  dear  Captain  Scott 
a  few  lines?  God  forbid.  I  must  again  welcome  him 
into  the  field  of  battle.  I  must  again  entreat  him  to 
keep  his  rank  as  captain,  and  not  suffer  any  persua- 
sions to  influence  him  to  descend  to  the  low  degree  of 
a  common  soldier.  If  God  will  choose  a  red-coat 
preacher,  who  shall  say  unto  him,  '  What  doest  thou  ?' 

"Prevent  thy  foes,  nor  wait  their  charge; 
But  call  the  lingering  battle  on ; 
But  strongly  grasp  thy  seven-fold  targe, 
And  bear  the  world  and  Satan  down. 

"  Strong  in  the  Lord's  almighty  power, 
And  armed  in  panoply  divine, 
Finn  mayest  thou  stand  in  danger's  hour, 
And  prove  the  strength  of  Jesus  thine. 

"The  helmet  of  salvation  take, 
The  Lord  the  Spirit's  conquering  sword ; 
Speak  from  the  word,  in  lightning  speak ; 
Cry  out,  and  thunder  from  the  Lord. 

"Through  friends  and  foes  pursue  thy  way, 
Be  mindful  of  a  dying  God ; 
Finish  thy  course,  and  win  the  day, 
Though  called  to  seal  the  truth  with  blood. 

"Gladly  would  I  come,  and  in  my  poor  way  en 
deavor  to  strengthen  your  hands ;  but  alas,  I  am  fit 
for  nothing,  but,  as  an  invalid,  to  be  put  into  some 


408  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

garrison,  and  now  and  then  put  my  hand  to  some  old 
gun.  Blessed  be  the  Captain  of  our  salvation  for 
drafting  out  some  young  champions  to  reconnoitre 
and  attack  the  enemy.  You  will  beat  the  march  in 
every  letter,  and  bid  the  common  soldiers  not  halt, 
but  go  forwards.  Good  Lady  Huntingdon  wishes  you 
much  prosperity.  Pray  write  to  her  at  Brighthelm- 
stone,  [now  Brighton,]  Sussex.  She  will  most  gladly 
answer  you ;  and  I  assure  you,  her  Ladyship's  letters 
are  always  weighty.  Hoping  one  day  or  another  to 
see  your  face  in  the  flesh,  and  more  than  hoping  to 
see  you  crowned  with  glory  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
I  must  hasten  to  subscribe  myself,  my  dear  captain, 
yours  in  our  all-glorious  Captain-general, 

"G.  WHITEFIELD." 

The  last  letter  we  shall  introduce  in  this  connec- 
tion was  addressed  by  Whitefield  to  the  Honorable  and 
Rev.  "Walter  Shirley,  of  Ireland,  a  near  relative  of  the 
Countess  of  Huntingdon,  who  breathed,  as  a  minister 
of  Christ,  much  of  the.  spirit  of  his  great  Master.  It 
was  dated,  Bath,  Dec.  8,  1767  : 

"REV.  AND  VERY  DEAR  SIR — How  glad  was  I  to 
hear  by  the  London  Shunamite,  [Mrs.  Herritage,]  that 
you  and  your  lady  were  well ;  that  God  had  given 
you  a  son ;  that  you  reflected  on  your  preaching  at 
Tottenham  Court  chapel  with  pleasure  ;  that  you  had 
gotten  a  curate ;  and,  to  complete  all,  that  you  intend- 
ed to  visit  England  next  spring.  This  news  rejoiced 
me  before  I  left  town,  and  was  most  grateful  to  our 
good  Lady  Huntingdon,  whom  I  have  the  honor  of 
waiting  upon  at  this  time  in  Bath.  She  hath  been 
sick,  nigh  unto  death,  but  through  mercy  is  now  some- 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         409 

what  recovered,  though  as  yet  unable  to  write  much. 
This  her  ladyship  much  regrets  on  your  account ;  and 
therefore  enjoins  me  to  inform  you,  that  your  letter 
did  not  reach  her  hands  till  many  weeks  after  the 
proper  time ;  that  ever  since  she  has  been  visited  with 
lingering  sickness,  but  begs  you  will  not  linger  in 
coming  over  to  our  Macedonia  to  help  us.  The 
thought  of  it  seems  to  refresh  her  heaven-born  soul, 
Blessed  be  God,  her  ladyship  still  takes  the  lead, 

"  She  is  now  doing  honor  to  the  remains  of'  tho 
Earl  of  Buchan,  who  sweetly  slept  in  Jesus  last  week.. 
All  hath  been  awful,  and  more  than  awful.  On  Sat- 
urday evening,  before  the  corpse  was  taken  from  Bu- 
chan house,  a  word  of  exhortation  was  given,,  and  a 
hymn  sung  in  the  room  where  the  corpse  lay.  The 
young  Earl  stood  with  his  hands  on  the  head  of  tho 
coffin,  the  Countess  Dowager  of  Buchan  on  his  right 
hand,  Lady  Ann  Agnes,  and  Lady  Isabella  Erskine  on 
his  left,  and  their  brother  the  Hon,  Thomas  Erskine 

next  to  their  mother,  with  Miss  0 ,  Miss  W , 

Miss  G ;  on  one  side  all  the  domestics,  with  a  few 

friends  on  the  other.  The  word  of  exhortation  was 
received  with  great  solemnity,  and  most  wept  under 
the  parting  prayer.  At  ten,  the  corpse  was  removed 
to  good  Lady  Huntingdon's  chapel,  where  it  was  de- 
posited within  a  place  railed  in  for  that  purpose,  cov- 
ered with  black  baize,  and  the  usual  funeral  concomi- 
tants, except  escutcheons.  , 

"  On  Sunday  morning,  all  attended  in  mourning  at 
early  sacrament.  They  were  seated  by  themselves, 
at  the  feet  of  the  corpse,  and  with  their  head  servants, 
received  first,  and  a  particular,  address  was  made  to; 


410  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

them.     Immediately  after  receiving,  these  verses  were 
sung  for  them : 

" '  Our  lives,  our  blood,  we  here  present, 

If  for  thy  truth  they  may  be  spent ; 

Fulfil  thy  glorious  counsel,  Lord ; 

Thy  will  be  done,  thy  name  adored. 
"'Give  them  thy  strength,  0  God  of  power, 

Then  let  men  rave  or  devils  roar, 

Thy  faithful  witnesses  they'll  be; 

'Tis  fixed,  they  can  do  all  through  thee!' 

"  Then  they  received  this  blessing :  '  The  Lord  bless 
you,  and  keep  you ;  the  Lord  lift  up  the  light  of  his 
countenance  upon  you ;  the  Lord  cause  his  face  to 
shine  upon  you,  and  give  you  peace ;'  and  so  returned 
to  their  places. 

"Sacrament  ended,  and  a  blessed  sacrament  it  was, 
the  noble  mourners  returned  to  the  good  Countess  of 
Huntingdon's  house,  which  was  lent  them  for  the  day. 
At  eleven,  public  worship  began.  The  bereaved  rela- 
tives sat  in  order  within,  and  the  domestics  round  the 
outside  of  the  rail.  The  chapel  was  more  than  crowd- 
ed. Near  three  hundred  tickets,  signed  by  the  pres- 
ent earl,  were  given  out  to  the  nobility  and  gentry, 
to  be  admitted.  All  was  hushed  and  solemn.  Prop- 
er hymns  were  sung,  and  I  preached  on  the  words, 
'Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord.'  Atten- 
tion sat  on  every  countenance,  and  deep  and  almost 
universal  impressions  were  made.  The  like  scene, 
and  if  possible  more  solemn,  was  exhibited  in  the 
evening,  and  I  was  enabled  to  preach  a  second  time, 
and  a  like  power  attended  the  word  as  in  the  morn- 
ing. Ever  since,  there  hath  been  public  service  and 
preaching  twice  a  day.  This  is  to  be  continued  till 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         411 

Friday  morning,  then  all  is  to  be  removed  to  Bristol, 
in  order  to  be  shipped  off  to  Scotland.  The  inscrip- 
tion on  the  coffin  runs  thus :  '  His  life  was  honorable — • 
his  death  blessed — he  sought  earnestly  peace  with 
God — he  found  it,  with  unspeakable  joy,  alone  in  the 
merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  witnessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  his  soul — he  yet  speaketh.  Go  and  do  likewise.' 

"I  have  often  wished  for  you  here.  Congrega- 
tions are  very  large,  attentive,  and  deeply  impressed. 
Great  numbers  of  all  ranks  crowd  to  see  and  hear ; 
and  I  trust  many  will  also  feel.  Surely  the  death  of 
this  noble  earl,  thus  improved,  will  prove  the  life  of 
many.  He  behaved  like  the  patriarch  Jacob,  when 
by  faith,  leaning  upon  his  staff,  he  blessed  his  chil- 
dren. The  earl  added,  'Yea,  and  they  shall  be  bless- 
ed.' He  laid  his  hands  on,  and  blessed  his  children, 
assuring  them  of  his  personal  interest  in  Jesus.  He 
had  great  foretastes  of  heaven.  'Had  I  strength  of 
body,'  cried  he,  '  I  would  not  be  ashamed,  before  men 
and  angels,  to  tell  what  the  Lord  Jesus  hath  done  for 
my  soul.  Come,  Holy  Ghost — come,  Holy  Ghost; 
happy,  happy,  happy!'  and  then  sweetly  slept  in  Jesus. 
All  surviving  relatives  still  feel  the  influence.  They 
sit  round  the  corpse,  attended  by  their  domestics  and 

supporters,  twice  a  day.  Good  Lady  S gets 

fresh  spirits.  The  present  noble  earl,  I  believe,  hath 
got  the  blessing  indeed,  and  seems,  upon  the  best  evi- 
dence, to  determine  to  know  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ, 
and  him  crucified.  He  hath  behaved  in  the  most  del- 
icate manner  to  the  Countess,  and  other  noble  survi- 
vors." 

The  summer  of  1768  brought  to  Whitefield  a  Be- 


412  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ries  of  changes.  For  the  last  time  he  now  visited 
Edinburgh,  where  he  found  his  congregations  as  large, 
and  his  Christian  friends  as  affectionate  as  ever.  Soon 
after  his  return  to  London,  Mrs.  Whitefield  was  seized 
with  inflammatory  fever,  and  died,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  on  the  9th  of  August.  His  own  health  too  was 
more  than  declining.  He  writes,  "I  have  been  in 
hopes  of  my  own  departure.  Through  hard  writing, 
and  frequent  preaching,  I  have  burst  a  vein.  The 
flux  is  in  a  great  measure  stopped ;  but  rest  and  quiet- 
ness are  strictly  enjoined." 

"Rest  and  quietness!"  With  Whitefield  such 
things  were  impossible  as  long  as  he  could  move  or 
speak.  His  fire  must  burn  till  its  whole  material  was 
expended;  his  heart  overflowed,  and  he  must  labor 
till  his  body  sank  under  exhaustion.  No  persecution 
could  appall  him,  no  sickness  could  long  keep  him 
from  his  beloved  engagements.  He  would  preach  till 
he  died,  being  fully  assured  that  his  "  labor  was  not  in 
vain  in  the  Lord." 

Neither  Whitefield  nor  any  of  his  friends  could 
ever  be  the  advocates  of  an  unlearned  ministry.  Many 
of  the  men  engaged  under  his  direction,  and  preach- 
ing in  what  was  already  called  "  Lady  Huntingdon's 
connection,"  needed,  as  they  well  knew,  a  better  edu- 
cation than  they  possessed.  Hence  her  ladyship  ob- 
tained a  lease  of  an  old  structure,  supposed  to  have 
been  part  of  an  ancient  castle  erected  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  the  Second.  The  date  over  the  entrance,  now 
almost  effaced,  is  1176.  It  was  called  Trevecca 
House,  was  situated  in  the  parish  of  Talgarth,  in 
South  Wales,  and  was  for  some  time  the  residence  of 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         413 

Howel  Harris.  This  building  was  openefl  as  a  college 
for  religious  and  literary  instruction,  and  the  chapel 
dedicated  to  the  preaching  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
Aug.  24,  1768,  the  anniversary  of  the  Bartholomew 
act,  and  of  the  birth  of  her -ladyship.  Mr.  Whitefield 
preached  from  Exod.  24  :  24  :  "  In  all  places  where  I 
record  my  name,  I  will  come  unto  thee  and  bless 
thee  ;"  and  on  the  following  Sabbath  he  addressed  a 
congregation  of  some  thousands,  who  assembled  in  the 
court  before  the  college.  His  text  on  that  occasion 
was,  "Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  is 
laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ."  When  speaking  of  the 
dedication  of  the  college,  Mr.  Whitefield  says,  "What 
we  have  seen  and  felt  at  the  college  is  unspeakable." 

After  her  ladyship's  death  the  institution  was  re- 
moved to  Cheshunt,  about  thirteen  miles  north  of  Lon- 
don, where  it  still  flourishes  under  the  presidency  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  H.  Stowell. 

In  the  early  part  of  1769,  Mr.  Whitefield  was  for 
some  weeks  seriously  ill,  but  towards  the  close  of 
March,  he  was  able  to  write,  "  Through  infinite  mercy 
I  have  been  able  to  preach  four  days  successively." 
During  his  illness  he  received  many  offers  of  assist- 
ance from  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  but  from  none 
more  cordially  than  from  the  Honorable  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Shirley.  Writing  to  him,  April  1,  Whitefield 
says : 

"  How  much  am  I  obliged  to  you  for  your  two  kind 
letters,  and  more  especially  for  the  repeated  offers  of 
your  ministerial  assistance.  They  will  be  most  grate- 
fully accepted,  and,  I  humbly  hope,  be  remarkably  suc- 
ceeded by  Him  who  hath  promised  to  be  with  us  al- 


414  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ways,  even  nnto  the  end  of  the  world.  Blessed  be 
His  name,  we  have  been  favored  with  most  delightful 
passover  feasts.  The  shout  of  the  King  of  kings  is 
still  heard  in  the  midst  of  our  Methodist  camps ;  and 
the  shout  of,  Grace,  grace !  resounds  from  many  quar- 
ters. Our  almighty  Jesus  knows  how  to  build  his 
temple  in  troublous  times.  His  work  prospers  in  the 
hands  of  the  elect  countess,  who  is  gone  to  Bath,  much 
recovered  from  her  late  indisposition.  Worthy  Lady 
Fanny  Shirley  proposes  soon  to  follow,  in  order  to 
reside  there.  Some  more  coronets,  I  hear,  are  likely 
to  be  laid  at  the  Redeemer's  feet.  They  glitter  glo- 
riously when  set  in  and  surrounded  by  a  crown  of 
thorns. 

" '  Subjects  of  the  Lord,  be  bold  ; 

Jesus  will  his  kingdom  hold ; 

Wheels  encircling  wheels  must  run, 

Each  in  course  to  bring  it  on.' " 

That  the  friendship  of  Dr.  Franklin  towards  Mr. 
Whitefield  was  sincere,  cannot  be  doubted ;  there  is, 
however,  somewhat  painful  in  the  thought,  that -even 
in  this  connection  Franklin  could  not  conceal  his 
scepticism.-  In  1769  both  these  eminent  men  were  in 
London,  and  every  one  knows  that  the  state  of  our 
country  was  very  trying.  Franklin  thus  wrote  to 
Whitefield :  "  I  am  under  continued  apprehensions  that 
we  may  have  bad  news  from  America.  The  sending 
soldiers  to  Boston  always  appeared  to  me  a  dangerous 
step ;  they  could  do  no  good,  they  might  occasion  mis- 
chief. When  I  consider  the  warm  resentment  of  a 
people  who  think  themselves  injured  and  oppressed, 
and  the  common  insolence  of  the  soldiery,  who  are 
taught  to  consider  that  people  as  in  rebellion,  I  can- 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         415 

not  but  fear  the  consequences  of  bringing  them  to- 
gether. It  seems  like  setting  up  a  smith's  forge  in  a 
magazine  of  gunpowder.  I  see  with  you  that  our  af- 
fairs are  not  well  managed  by  our  rulers  here  below  ; 
I  wish  I  could  believe  with  you,  that  they  are  well 
attended  to  by  those  above :  I  rather  suspect,  from 
certain  circumstances,  that  though  the  general  gov- 
ernment of  the  universe  is  well  administered,  our 
particular  little  affairs  are  perhaps  below  notice, 
and  left  to  take  the  chance  of  human  prudence  or 
imprudence,  as  either  may  happen  to  be  uppermost. 
It  is,  however,  an  uncomfortable  thought,  and  I  leave 
it." 

It  would  have  been  strange  indeed  if  Whitefield 
had  allowed  a  letter  closing  in  this  manner  to  pass 
without  a  remark ;  hence  we  are  prepared  to  find  that, 
in  his  own  handwriting,  at  the  foot  of  the  autograph 
letter,  he  wrote,  "  Uncomfortable  indeed !  and,  blessed 
be  God,  unscriptural ;  for  we  are  fully  assured  that  'the 
Lord  reigneth,'  and  are  directed  to  cast  all  our  own 
care  on  him,  because  he  careth  for  us."  Could  Dr. 
Franklin  have  seen  the  splendid  results  of  that  man- 
agement which  he  thought  indicated  the  absence  of  a 
particular  providence — could  he  have  beheld  the  vast 
Republic,  the  abode  of  liberty,  commerce,  literature, 
and  religion,  which  in  less  than  a  century  has  grown 
out  of  the  insurgent  colonies — he  would  surely  have 
exclaimed,  in  the  language  of  the  propliet,  "Verily 
there  is  a  God  in  the  earth !" 

In  July,  Whitefield  was  called  by  Lady  Hunting- 
don to  visit  Tunbridge  Wells,  a  popular  watering 
place  in  Kent,  some  twenty  or  thirty  miles  from  Lon- 


416  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

don,  to  dedicate  a  new  and  beautiful  house  to  the 
service  of  God.  The  congregation  was  far  too  large 
to  be  accommodated  within  the  walls;  he  therefore 
preached  out  of  doors  from  a  mount  in  the  court  be- 
fore the  house.  His  text  was,  "  This  is  none  other 
but  the  house  of  God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven." 
Gen.  28  :17.  This  sermon  is  said  to  have  been  one 
of  his  most  eloquent  and  thrilling  efforts  ;  the  lofty 
energy  of  his  tones,  the  utter  forgetfulness  of  himself 
in  the  all-absorbing  interest  of  his  subject,  the  very 
impersonation  of  the  truths  which  he  uttered  as  he 
stretched  forth  his  hand,  "  Look  yonder ;  what  is 
that  I  see  ?  It  is  my  agonizing  Lord !  Hark,  hark ! 
do  you  not  hear?  0  earth,  earth,  earth,  hear  the 
•word  of  the  Lord!"  thrilled  the  vast  congregation, 
riveting  the  eye,  piercing  the  conscience,  and  holding 
strong  men  breathless  before  the  resistless  might  of 
his  inspired  eloquence.  After  the  service  he  delivered 
an  exhortation,  and  on  the  next  day  again  preached 
and  administered  the  Lord's  supper. 

He  now  began  to  prepare  for  his  seventh,  and  as  it 
proved,  his  last  voyage  to  America,  especially  to  visit 
his  beloved  orphans  and  friends  in  Georgia.  The 
only  thing  which  seems  to  have  grieved  him,  was  the 
pain  of  parting  for  a  time  from  his  London  friends. 
This  was  nothing  new,  but  his  feelings  were  even  less 
reconciled  to  the  event  than  formerly.  "Oh,"  he 
says,  "  these  partings !  without  a  divine  support  they 
would  be  intolerable.  Talk  not  of  taking  personal 
leave  ;  you  know  my  make.  Paul  could  stand  a  whip- 
ping, but  not  a  weeping  farewell." 

The  text  of  his  last  sermon  was  John  10  : 27,  28  : 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         411 

"  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they 
follow  me :  and  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life  ;  and 
they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  man  pluck 
them  out  of  my  hand."  The  sermon  was  printed,  and 
that  very  incorrectly  ;  but  a  few  sentences  will  show 
that  it  was  strikingly  characteristic  :  "  These  words, 
it  will  be  recollected,  were  uttered  by  Christ  at  the 
feast  of  dedication.  This  festival  was  of  bare  human 
invention,  and  yet  I  do  not  find  that  our  Lord  preached 
against  it.  And  I  believe  that  when  we  see  things  as 
we  ought,  we  shall  not  entertain  our  auditories  about 
rites  and  ceremonies,  but  about  the  grand  thing.  It 
is  the  glory  of  Methodists,  that  while  they  have  been 
preaching  forty  years,  there  has  not  been,  that  I  know 
of,  one  single  pamphlet  published  by  them  about  the 
non-essentials  of  religion.  .  .  .  The  Lord  divides  the 
world  into  sheep  and  goats.  0  sinners,  you  are  come 
to  hear  a  poor  creature  take  his  last  farewell ;  but  I 
want  you  to  forget  the  creature  and  his  preaching.  I 
want  to  lead  you  further  than  the  Tabernacle — even 
to  mount  Calvary,  to  see  with  what  expense  of  blood 
Jesus  Christ  purchased  '  his  own.'  Now,  before  I  go 
any  further,  will  you  be  so  good,  before  the  world 
gets  into  your  hearts,  to  inquire  whether  you  belong 
to  Christ  or  not.  Surely  the  world  did  not  get  into 
your  hearts  before  you  rose  from  your  beds.  Many 
of  you  were  up  sooner  than  usual.  [The  sermon  was 
preached  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning.]  I  hope 
the  world  does  not  get  into  your  hearts  before  nine. 
Man,  woman,  sinner,  put  thy  hand  upon  thy  heart, 
and  say,  Didst  thou  ever  hear  Christ's  voice  so  as  to 
follow  him?  ...  I  once  heard  Dr.  Marryatt,  who  was 
IS* 


418  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

not  ashamed  of  'market  language/  say  at. Pinner's 
Hall,  '  God  has  a  great  dog  to  fetch  his  sheep  back 
when  they  wander.'  He  sends  the  devil  after  them, 
to  bark  at  them  ;  but  instead  of  barking  them  further 
off,  he  barks  them  back  to  the  fold.  ...  '  None  shall 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.'  This  implies  that  there 
is  always  somebody  plucking  at  Christ's  sheep.  The 
lust  of  the  flesh  is  plucking ;  the  pride  of  life  is  pluck- 
ing j  and  the  devil  is  continually  plucking  at  them ; 
'  but  nothing  shall  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand ;'  I 
have  bought  them,  and  am  gone  to  heaven  to  'prepare 
a  place  for  them.' " 

Of  this  sermon,  as  taken  in  shorthand  and  printed, 
Whitefield  received  a  copy  while  at  Deal,  and  was 
much  dissatisfied  with  it.  He  says,  "  This  morning  I 
received  a  surreptitious  copy  of  my  Tabernacle  fare- 
well sermon,  taken,  as  the  shorthand  writer  professes, 
verbatim  as  I  spoke  it.  But  surely  he  is  mistaken. 
The  whole  is  so  injudiciously  paragraphed,  and  so 
wretchedly  unconnected,  that  I  owe  no  thanks  to  the 
misguided,  though  it  may  be  well-meant  zeal  of  the 
writer  and  publisher,  be  they  who  they  will."  Had 
Whitefield  known  that  the  lad  of  seventeen  who  had 
thus  taken  down  his  sermon,  would  hereafter  become 
a  devoted  and  useful  minister  of  Christ,  the  secretary 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  the  originator  of  the 
London  Religious  Tract  Society,  and  for  many  years 
the  editor  of  the  London  Evangelical  Magazine,  and  the 
author  of  "  Village  Sermons,"  which  have  circulated 
by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  volumes  in  both  hemi- 
spheres, how  would  his  heart  have  warmed  towards 
him.  Let  us  copy  from  the  journal  of  George  Burder, 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         419 

as  given  in  his  life  by  his  son,  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  F. 
Burder,  a  short  passage  : 

"August,  1769.  About  this  time  I  heard  Mr. 
Whitefield  preach  several  sermons,  particularly  his 
two  last  in  London  ;  that  at  Tottenham  Court  chapel 
on  Sabbath  morning,  and  that  at  the  Tabernacle  on 
Wednesday  morning  at  seven  o'clock.  I  remember  a 
thought  which  passed  my  mind,  I  think,  as  I  was  going 
to  hear  his  last  sermon — '  Which  would  I  rather  be, 
Garrick  or  Whitefield?'  I  thought  each,  in  point  of 
oratory,  admirable  in  his  way.  I  doubt  not  con- 
science told  me  which  was  best.  I  wrote  Mr.  White- 
field's  sermons  in  shorthand,  though  standing  in  a 
crowd.  The  latter  I  copied  out;  and  by  the  request 
of  a  friend  it  was  printed  in  about  a  week.  I  remem- 
ber sitting  up  part  of  a  night  to  write  it  out,  and  at 
the  same  time  I  observed  the  comet  which  then  ap- 
peared. The  sermon  was  very  incorrect,  and  Mr. 
Whitefield  being  detained  at  Deal  before  he  left  Eng- 
land, saw  it,  and  complained  of  it." 

Before  we  entirely  separate  from  the  Tabernacle, 
we  wish  to  record  some  other  interesting  facts  asso- 
ciated with  it,  especially  relating  to  Thomas  Wilson, 
Esq.,  for  many  years  the  treasurer  of  Hoxton,  after- 
wards Highbury,  college,  who  gave  the  ground  on 
which  the  latter  building  stands,  devoted  his  fortune 
to  the  extension  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  many  other  noble  acts,  erected  five  large 
houses  of  worship  in  the  British  metropolis,  capable 
of  seating  eight  thousand  persons.  The  father  of 
this  gentleman  was  for  many  years  a  devoted  deacon 
of  a  Congregational  church,  but  entered  into  fiill 


420  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

sympathy  with  the  labors  of  Whitefield,  attending 
the  Tabernacle  on  Lord's-day  evenings.  "  To  thia 
circumstance,  perhaps,  may  be  traced  much  of  his  own 
zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  no  inconsiderable  por- 
tion of  that  public  spirit  which  afterwards  distin- 
guished his  son  Thomas,  who  well  remembered  being 
carried  in  his  nurse's  arms,  in  company  with  his  par- 
ents, to  the  scene  of  Whitefield's  ministry,  and  lis- 
tening with  such  interest  as  one  so  young  was  likely 
to  feel,  to  a  preacher  of  surpassing  eloquence  and 
power."  The  Kev.  Dr.  Morison,  one  of  his  biogra- 
phers, adds:  "Thus  did  he  imbibe  in  early  life  a 
strong  prepossession  for  animated  public  address, 
which  he  never  lost  in  after-years,  and  which  he  never 
failed  to  urge  upon  all  youthful  candidates  for  the 
sacred  office.  As  might  have  been  expected,  the  Tab- 
ernacle became  his  Sabbath  home,  where  he  was  wont 
to  listen  to  men  of  fervent  eloquence,  and  of  purely 
evangelical  sentiment.  He  entered,  while  very  young, 
into  communion  with  the  church  in  that  place,  and 
afforded  a  pleasing  example  of  early  and  consistent 
dedication  to  the  service  of  Christ." 

Having  finished  the  service  of  the  Tabernacle 
which  we  just  now  described,  Whitefield  went  imme- 
diately to  Gravesend,  twenty  miles  from  London,  to 
set  sail,  embarking  in  the  Friendship,  Captain  Ball, 
for  Charleston.  His  companions  on  the  voyage  were 
Messrs.  Winter  and  Smith,  both  of  them  young  minis- 
ters of  lively  zeal ;  and  the  former  especially,  was 
distinguished  in  after-life  by  great  success  in  his  labors 
for  Christ  and  his  church.  Whitefield  wrote,  "  I  am 
comfortable  on  every  side — a  civil  captain  and  pas- 


LAST  LABORS  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN.         421 

sengers  ;  all  willing  to  attend  on  divine  worship,  and 
to  hear  of  religious  things." 

But  delay  was  the  lot  of  our  evangelist  and  his 
friends.  They  arrived  in  the  Downs,  and  had  to  stay 
there  about  a  month  waiting  for  a  fair  wind.  While 
here,  he  was  delighted  with  a  most  unexpected  visit 
from  Dr.  Gibbons  of  London,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brad- 
bury of  Ramsgate,  who  had  met  at  Deal  to  ordain  a 
young  minister.  He  says,  "  Wednesday,  Sept.  13,  I 
went  on  shore,  and  attended  an  ordination  solemnity 
at  the  dissenting  meeting.  Several  ministers  offici- 
ated. Several  important  questions  were  asked  and 
answered  before,  and  a  solemn  charge  given  after 
imposition  of  hands.  But  the  prayer  put  up  in  the 
very  act  of  laying  on  of  hands,  by  Dr.  Gibbons,  was 
so  affecting,  and  the  looks  and  behavior  of  those  that 
joined  so  serious  and  solemn,  that  I  hardly  know  when 
I  was  more  struck  under  any  one's  ministration.  The 
ordination  being  over,  at  the  desire  of  the  ministers 
and  other  gentlemen,  I  went  and  dined  with  them : 
our  conversation  was  edifying ;  and  being  informed 
that  many  were  desirous  to  hear  me  preach,  I  will- 
ingly complied ;  and  I  trust  some  seed  was  sown 
the  same  evening  at  Deal,  which,  by  God's  heavenly 
blessing,  will  spring  up  to  life  eternal.  The  people  of 
Deal  seemed  very  civil,  and  some  came  to  me  who 
had  not  forgotten  my  preaching  to  them,  and  their 
deceased  friends  and  parents,  thirty-two  years  ago." 

Whitefield  tells  a  somewhat  amusing  anecdote  of 
Dr.  Gibbons,  on  one  of  his  visits  on  board.  The  wor- 
thy doctor  was  unused  to  the  sea,  and  became  sea-sick, 
so  that  he  was  obliged  to  lie  down  for  some  time  in 


422  GEORGE  WHITEPIELD. 

the  state-cabin.  "There,"  says  our  evangelist,  "he 
learned  more  experimentally  to  pray  for  those  who 
do  business  in  the  great  waters."  While  yet  in  the 
Downs,  Whitefield  preached  not  only  on  board,  but  at 
Ramsgate  and  elsewhere.  On  September  25,  in  com- 
pany with  many  other  ships,  they  sailed,  but  soon 
were  again  compelled  to  cast  anchor  over  against 
New  Romney  and  Dungenness.  At  length,  however, 
they  cleared  the  channel,  and  after  a  long  and  dan- 
gerous voyage  arrived  safe  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  Hap- 
pily, Whitefield's  health  had  become  greatly  reno- 
vated, so  that  he  felt  better  than  after  any  voyage  he 
had  made  for  many  years.  In  his  memorandum  he 
wrote : 

"November,  1769.  For  the  last  week  we  were 
beating  about  our  port,  within  sight  of  it,  and  con- 
tinued for  two  days  in  Five-fathom  hole,  just  over  the 
bar.  A  dangerous  situation,  as  the  wind  blew  hard, 
and  our  ship,  like  a  young  Christian,  for  want  of 
more  ballast,  would  not  obey  the  helm.  But  through 
infinite  mercy,  on  November  30,  a  pilot-boat  came  and 
took  us  safe  ashore  to  Charleston,  having  been  on 
board  almost  thirteen  weeks.  Friends  received  me 
most  cordially.  Praise  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  for- 
get not  all  his  mercies.  Oh,  to  begin  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian and  minister  of  Jesus !"  On  the  very  day  of  his 
landing,  Whitefield  preached  at  Charleston,  and  learn- 
ed from  his  friend  Mr.  Wright  that  all  was  well  at 
Bethesda. 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  423 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SEVENTH  VISIT  AND  LABORS  IN  AMERICA— DEATH. 
1769,    1770. 

WHITEFIELD  now  lost  no  time  in  proceeding  to  his 
beloved  Bethesda,  which  at  present  wore  a  very  invit- 
ing aspect.  Writing,  January  11,  1770,  he  says,  "Ev- 
ery thing  exceeds  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  I 
am  almost  tempted  to  say,  'It  is  good  for  me  to  be 
here ;'  but  all  must  give  way  to  gospel  ranging — di- 
rine  employ! 

" '  For  this,  let  men  revile  my  name, 
I  '11  shun  no  cross,  I  '11  fear  no  shame ; 
All  hail,  reproach !'  " 

In  another  letter  he  says,  "  The  increase  of  this  colony 
is  almost  incredible.  Two  wings  are  added  to  the 
orphan-house,  for  the  accommodation  of  students ;  of 
which  Governor  Wright  laid  the  foundation,  March 
25,  1769." 

An  official  paper  of  the  Georgia  legislature  will 
show  the  esteem  in  which  Whitefield  was  held  by  that 
body. 

"  Commons  House  of  Assembly,  Monday,  Jan.  29, 
1770.  Mr.  Speaker  reported,  that  he,  with  the  house, 
having  waited  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  invitation,  at  the  orphan-house  academy, 
heard  him  preach  a  very  suitable  and  pious  sermon  on 
the  occasion;  and  with  great  pleasure  observed  the 
promising  appearance  of  improvement  towards  the 


424  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

good  purposes  intended,  and  the  decency  andv  propri- 
ety of  behavior  of  the  several  residents  there ;  and 
were  sensibly  affected,  when  they  saw  the  happy  suc- 
cess which  has  attended  Whitefield's  indefatigable 
zeal  for  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  province  in 
general,  and  the  orphan-house  in  particular.  Ordered, 
that  this  report  be  printed  in  the  Gazette. 

"JOHN  SIMPSON,  Clerk." 

In  pursuan.ce  of  this  vote,  we  find  in  the  Georgia 
Gazette  as  follows:  "Savannah,  January  31,  1770. 
Last  Sunday,  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  Council, 
and  Assembly,  having  been  invited  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitefield,  attended  divine  service  in  the  chapel  of 
the  orphan-house  academy,  where  prayers  were  read 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellington,  and  a  very  suitable  sermon 
was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  from  Zecha- 
riah  4: 10,  'For  who  hath  despised  the  day  of  small 
things  ?'  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  auditory  ;  in 
which  he  took  occasion  to  mention  the  many  discour- 
agements he  met  with,  well  known  to  many  there,  in 
carrying  on  the  institution  for  upwards  of  thirty  years 
past,  and  the  present  promising  prospect  of  its  future 
and  more  extensive  usefulness.  After  divine  service, 
the  company  were  very  politely  entertained  with  a 
handsome  and  plentiful  dinner ;  and  were  greatly 
pleased  to  see  the  useful  improvements  made  in  the 
house,  the  two  additional  wings  of  apartments  for 
students,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  each  in  length, 
and  other  lesser  buildings,  in  so  much  forwardness  j 
and  the  whole  executed  with  taste,  and  in  so  masterly 
a  manner ;  and  being  sensible  of  the  truly  generous 
and  disinterested  benefactions  derived  to  the  province 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  425 

through  his  means,  they  expressed  their  gratitude  in 
the  most  respectful  terms." 

On  February  10,  we  find  a  letter  written  at  Charles- 
ton by  Whitefield  to  his  friend  Mr.  Robert  Keen  of 
London : 

"Through  infinite  mercy,  this  leaves  me  enjoying 
a  greater  share  of  bodily  health  than  I  have  known 
for  many  years.  I  am  now  enabled  to  preach  al- 
most every  day,  and  my  poor  feeble  labors  seem  not 
to  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  Blessed  be  God,  all  things 
are  in  great  forwardness  at  Bethesda.  I  have  con- 
versed with  the  governor  in  the  most  explicit  manner, 
more  than  once,  concerning  an  act  of  Assembly  for 
the  establishment  of  the  intended  orphan-house  col- 
lege. He  most  readily  consents.  I  have  shown  him 
a  draft,  which  he  much  approves  of,  and  all  will  be 
finished  at  my  return  from  the  northward ;  in  the 
meanwhile  the  building  will  be  carried  on.  As  two 
ministers  from  New  Jersey  and  Rhode  Island  have 
been  soliciting  benefactions  for  their  respective  col- 
leges, no  application  of  that  nature  can  be  made  here  • 

but  the  Lord  will  provide Since  my  being  in 

Charleston,  I  have  shown  the  draft  to  some  persons  of 
great  eminence  and  influence.  They  highly  approve 
of  it,  and  willingly  consent  to  be  some  of  the  wardens. 
Nearly  twenty  are  to  be  of  Georgia,  and  about  six  of 
this  place ;  one  of  Philadelphia,  one  of  New  York, 
one  of  Boston,  three  of  Edinburgh,  two  of  Glasgow, 
and  six  of  London.  Those  of  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina  are  to  be  qualified;  the  others  to  be  only 
honorary  corresponding  wardens." 

Two  days  afterwards  he  again  writes  to  the  same 


426  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

friend,  "  In  a  few  months,  I  hope  all  will  be  complet- 
ed. But  what  may  these  few  months  produce?  Lord 
Jesus,  prepare  us  for  whatsoever  thou  hast  prepared 
for  us,  and  give  peace  in  our  time,  for  thine  infinite 
mercy's  sake.  You  must  expect  another  draft  soon. 
God  be  praised  for  that  saying,  'It  is  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive.'  You  would  be  pleased  to  see 
with  what  attention  the  people  hjear  the  word  preach- 
ed. I  have  been  in  Charleston  near  a  fortnight — am 
to  preach  at  a  neighboring  country  parish  church 
next  Sunday,  and  hope  to  see  Georgia  the  week  fol- 
lowing. Perhaps  I  may  sail  from  thence  to  the  north- 
ward, and  perhaps  embark  from  thence.  Lord  Jesus, 
direct  my  goings  in  thy  way.  I  am  blessed  with 
bodily  health,  and  am  enabled  to  go  on  my  way  rejoic- 
ing. Grace,  grace  !'• 

On  returning  to  Bethesda,  his  heart  seems  to  have 
oeen  full  of  the  orphan-house  and  the  college.  For  the 
direction  of  the  latter,  he  prepared  a  series  of  rules, 
and  especially  provided  for  the  reading  of  the  old 
Puritan  and  Non-conformist  writers  of  the  seventeenth 
and  eighteenth  centuries.  Every  letter  he  wrote  con- 
tained references  to  the  improved  state  of  his  health, 
and  the  increased  number  of  preaching  engagements 
which  he  was  now  able  to  fulfil.  His  spirits  seem  to 
have  been  better,  and  his  exultations  in  the  divine 
kindness  more  ardent  than  ever,  while  his  correspond- 
ence indicates  much  heavenly-mindedness,  and  lively 
desires  for  the  highest  happiness  of  his  friends. 

As  Whitefield  had  now  been  in  the  south  more 
than  five  months,  we  are  not  surprised  to  find  that 
applications  poured  in  from  every  part  of  the  north, 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  427 

entreating  him  to  revisit  the  scenes  of  other  years. 
He  left  Bethesda  and  its  affairs  in  the  hands  of  per- 
sons worthy  of  his  confidence,  of  whom  he  said,  "  Such 
a  set  of  helpers  I  never  met  with." 

After  some  hesitation  as  to  where  he  should  first 
go,  he  set  out  for  Philadelphia,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  6tn  of  May.  Writing  three  days  afterwards,  he 
says,  "  The  evening  following,  I  was  enabled  to  preach 
to  a  large  auditory,  and  have  to  repeat  the  delightful 
task -this  evening.  Pulpits,  hearts,  and  affections,  seem 
to  be  as  open  and  enlarged  to  me  as  ever."  On  the 
24th  he  again  wrote,  "  A  wide  and  effectual  door,  I 
trust,  has  been  opened  in  this  city.  People  of  all 
ranks  flock  as  much  as  ever.  Impressions  are  made 
on  many,  and  I  trust  they  will  abide.  To  all  the 
Episcopal  churches,  as  well  as  most  of  the  other  places 
of  worship,  I  have  free  access.  Notwithstanding  I 
preach  twice  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  three  or  four 
times  a  week  besides,  yet  I  am  rather  better  than  I 
have  been  for  many  years.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing." 
On  June  14,  he  says,  "This  leaves  me  just  returned 
from  a  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles'  circuit,  in  which, 
blessed  be  God,  I  have  been  enabled  to  preach  every 
day.  So  many  new  as  well  as  old  doors  are  open, 
and  so  many  invitations  sent  from  various  quarters, 
that  I  know  not  which  way  to  turn  myself." 

Of  his  last  visit  to  New  Jersey,  Bishop  White  of 
Philadelphia,  then  a  young  man  of  twenty-three,  says, 
"When  he  was  on  his  way  from  Philadelphia  to  Bos- 
ton, late  in  the  summer,  he  had  been  prevailed  on  to 
promise  to  cross  from  Bristol  to  Burlington,  and  to 
preach  there.  I  happened  to  be  in  the  latter  place, 


428  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

and  staying  in  the  house  of  a  relative,  when  it  was 
announced  that  Mr.  Whitefield  was  at  a  tavern  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  He  was  expected  to  be 
escorted  by  my  relative.  I  went  with  him  •  and  we 
returned  in  a  boat  with  Mr.  Whitefield  and  his  com- 
pany. He  preached  to  the  assembled  citizens  in  front 
of  the  court-house,  and  afterwards  dined  at  thefhouse 
of  my  relative.  During  dinner,  he  was  almost  the 
only  speaker  j  as  was  said  to  be  common;  all  present 
being  disposed  to  listen." 

A  few  days  after  this  visit,  we  find  him  at  New 
York,  writing,  June  30,  "I  have  been  here  just  a 
week.  Have  been  enabled  to  preach  four  times ;  and 
am  to  repeat  the  delightful  task  this  evening.  Con- 
gregations are  larger  than  ever.  Blessed  be  God,  I 
have  been  strengthened  to  itinerate  and  preach  daily 
for  some  time.  Next  week  I  purpose  to  go  to  Albany; 
from  thence,  perhaps  to  the  Oneida  Indians.  There 
is  to  be  a  very  large  Indian  congress ;  Mr.  Kirkland 
accompanies  me.  He  is  a  truly  Christian  minister 
and  missionary.  Every  thing  possible  should  be  done 
to  strengthen  his  hands  and  his  heart.  Perhaps  I  may 
not  see  Georgia  till  Christmas.  As  yet,  I  keep  to  my 
intended  plan,  in  respect  to  my  returning.  Lord 
Jesus,  direct  my  goings  in  thy  way.  The  heat  begins 
now  to  be  a  little  intense ;  but  through  mercy  I  am 
enabled  to  bear  up  bravely.  What  a  God  do  we 
serve  I" 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  he  again  writes  from 
the  same  city,  and  it  is  the  last  entry  in  his  memoran- 
dum :  "  Since  my  last,  and  during  this  month,  I  have 
been  above  a  five  hundred  miles'  circuit;  and  have 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  429 

been  enabled  to  preach  and  travel  through  the  heat 
every  day.  The  congregations  have  been  very  large, 
attentive,  and  affected ;'  particularly  at  Albany,  Sche- 
nectady,  Great  Barrington,  Norfolk,  Salisbury,  Sha- 
ron, Smithfield,  Poughkeepsie,  Fishkill,  New  Rumbart, 
New  Windsor,  and  Peck's  Hill.  Last  night  I  return- 
ed hither,  and  hope  to  set  out  for  Boston  in  two  or 
three  days.  0  what  a  new  scene  of  usefulness  is  open- 
ing in  various  parts  of  this  world!  All  fresh  work 
where  I  have  been.  The  divine  influence  has  been  as 
at  first.  Invitations  crowd  upon  me  both  from  min- 
isters and  people,  from  many,  many  quarters.  A  very 
peculiar  providence  led  me  very  lately  to  a  place 
where  a  horse-stealer  was  executed.  Thousands  at- 
tended. The  poor  criminal  had  sent  me  several  let- 
ters, hearing  I  was  in  the  country.  The  sheriff  allow- 
ed him  to  come  and  hear  a  sermon  under  an  adjacent 
tree.  Solemn,  solemn!  After  being  by  himself  about 
an  hour,  I  walked  half  a  mile  with  him  to  the  gal- 
lows. His  heart  had  been  softened  before  my  first 
visit.  .He  seemed  full  of  solid,  divine  consolation. 
An  instructive  walk!  I  went  up  with  him  into  the 
cart.  He  gave  a  short  exhortation.  I  then  stood 
upon  the  coffin — added,  I  trust,  a  word  in  season — 
prayed — gave  the  blessing,  and  took  my  leave.  Effec- 
tual good,  I  hope,  was  done  to  the  hearers  and  spec- 
tators. Grace,  grace !" 

Our  local  histories  seem  to  delight  to  honor  White- 
field  by  the  introduction  of  his  name  whenever  they 
have  an  opportunity.  In  a  notice  of  Sharon,  in  "  Bar- 
ber's Historical  Collections  of  Connecticut,"  the  writer 
says,  "  In  the  latter  part  of  July,  1770.  the  Rev. 


430  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

George  Whitefield  passed  through  this  town  on  a 
preaching  tour.  There  was  considerable  opposition 
to  his  being  admitted  into  the  meeting-house,  and 
arrangements  had  been  made  to  hold  the  service  in 
an  orchard  still  standing  near  the  meeting-house,  in 
case  he  should  be  refused.  Mr.  Smith,  [the  Rev.  Cot- 
ton Mather  Smith,  a  descendant  of  Cotton  M&ther,] 
invited  him  into  the  pulpit,  though  strongly  opposed 
by  a  considerable  number  of  influential  men.  An  im- 
mense congregation  from  this  and  the  neighboring 
towns  filled  the  meeting-house  to  overflowing.  His 
text  was, '  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  you,  Ye  must 
be  born  again.'  He  proceeded  to  discourse  on  the 
doctrine  of  the  new  birth  with  astonishing  power  and 
eloquence,  and  the  congregation  were  much  moved 
by  the  power  of  the  truth  and  Spirit  of  God.  The 
concluding  words  of  his  discourse  were  a  quotation, 
with  a  little  variation,  from  the  close  of  the  fourth 
chapter  of  Solomon's  Song.  '  Awake,  0  north  wind, 
and  come,  thou  south;  blow  upon  this  garden,  that 
the  spices  thereof  may  flow  out.  Let  my  Beloved 
come  into  this  garden,  and  eat  his  pleasant  fruits.' 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Sharon  followed  him  for 
several  successive  days,  to  hear  the  word  of  life  from 
this  devoted  minister  of  the  cross." 

We  think  it  must  have  been  in  this  journey  that 
Whitefield's  ministry  was  blessed  to  the  conversion 
of  a  young  man  who  has  left  his  mark  on  the  age. 
Benjamin  Randall  was  born  in  New  Castle,  New 
Hampshire,  in  1749.  In  his  twenty-second  year  he 
was  brought  under  the  ministry  of  Whitefield,  by 
which  means  he  became  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  and 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  431 

was  soon  after  converted  to  God.  In  1776,  he  united 
with  a  Calvinistic  Baptist  church;  but  before  long, 
began  to  preach  what  he  accounted  more  correct  doc- 
trines in  his  native  town,  and  was  honored  of  God  to 
effect  a  very  powerful  and  extensive  revival.  He  is 
considered  the  founder  of  the  denomination  of  Free- 
will Baptists,  which  now  comprises  from  eleven  to 
twelve  hundred  churches,  more  than  a  thousand  pas- 
tors and  licentiates,  and  upwards  of  fifty  thousand 
communicants.  Mr.  Randall  was  a  man  of  strong 
mental  powers,  and  though  he  had  not  a  classical  edu- 
cation, he  was  a  good  English  scholar,  aspired  after 
general  and  religious  knowledge,  had  fine  discrimi- 
nating talent,  and  was  remarkable  for  the  persever- 
ance with  which  he  pursued  whatever  he  undertook. 
Above  all,  like  his  spiritual  father,  he  possessed  what 
a  living  preacher  has  well  called,  "  a  passion  for 
souls." 

From  New  York  Whitefield  proceeded  to  Boston, 
and  short  extracts  from  two  of  his  letters,  and  those 
the  last  he  wrote,  will  show  his  position  and  his  feel- 
ings: 

September  17,  he  says  to  Mr.  "Wright,  at  Bethesda, 
"  Fain  would  I  come  by  Captain  Souder,  from  Phila- 
delphia ;  but  people  are  so  importunate  for  my  stay 
in  these  parts,  that  I  fear  it  will  be  impracticable. 
'My  God  will  supply  all  my  need  according  to  the 
riches  of  his  grace  in  Christ  Jesus.'  Two  or  three 
evenings  ago,  I  was  taken  in  the  night  with  a  violent 
flux,  attended  with  retching  and  shivering,  so  that  I 
was  obliged  to  return  from  Newbury ;  but  through 
infinite  mercy  I  am  restored,  and  to-morrow  morning 


432  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

hope  to  begin  again.  Never  was  the  word  received 
rwith  greater  eagerness  than  now.  All  opposition 
seems,  as  it  were,  for  a  while  to  cease.  I  find  God's 
time  is  the  best.  The  season  is  critical  as  to  outward 
circumstances  ;  but  when  forts  are  given  up,  the  Lord 
Jesus  can  appoint  salvation  for  walls  and  for  bul- 
warks ;  he  has  promised  to  be  a  wall  of  fire  round 
about  his  people.  This  comforts  me  concerning  Be- 
thesda,  though  we  should  have  a  Spanish  war.  You 
will  be  pleased  to  hear,  I  never  was  carried  through 
the  summer's  heat  so  well." 

And  finally,  to  his  dear  friend  Mr.  Keen  of  Lon- 
don, he  wrote  from  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire, 
September  23,  just  one  week  before  his  death,  "By 
this  time  I  thought  to  be  moving  southward.  But 
never  was  greater  importunity  used  to  detain  me 
longer  in  these  northern  parts.  Poor  New  England 
is  much  to  be  pitied ;  Boston  people  most  of  all.  How 
grossly  misrepresented !  What  a  mercy  that  our 
Christian  charter  cannot  be  dissolved !  Blessed  be 
God  for  an  unchangeable  Jesus !  You  will  see,  by 
the  many  invitations,  what  a  door  is  opened  for 
preaching  the  everlasting  gospel.  I  was  so  ill  on 
Friday  that  I  could  not  preach,  though  thousands 
were  waiting  to  hear.  Well,  the  day  of  release  will 
shortly  come,  but  it  does  not  seem  yet ;  for  by  riding 
sixty  miles  I  am  better,  and  hope  to  preach  here  to- 
morrow. 1  trust  my  blessed  Master  will  accept  these 
poor  efforts  to  serve  him.  O  for  a  warm  heart !  O 
to  stand  fast  in  the  faith,  to  acquit  ourselves  like 
men,  and  be  strong !  May  this  be  the  happy  experi- 
ence of  you  and  yours.  I  suppose  your  letters  are 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  433 

gone  for  me  in  the  Anderson  to  Georgia.  If  spared 
so  long,  I  expect  to  see  them  about  Christmas.  Still 
pray  and  praise.  I  am  so  poorly,  and  so  engaged 
when  able  to  preach,  that  this  must  apologize  for  not 
writing  to  more  friends  :  it  is  quite  impracticable." 

Whitefi  eld's  hope  to  "  preach  here  to-morrow  "  was 
fully  realized.  In  the  "Pennsylvania  Journal  and 
Weekly  Advertiser,"  we  find  a  letter  from  Ports- 
mouth, dated  Sept.  28,  1770,  which  says,  "  Last  Sun- 
day morning  came  to  town  from  Boston,  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefield,  and  in  the  afternoon  he  preached 
at  the  Rev.  Dr.  Haven's  meeting-house ;  Monday 
morning  he  preached  again  at  the  same  place,  to  a 
very  large  and  crowded  audience.  Tuesday  morning 
a  most  numerous  assembly  met  at  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lang- 
don's  meeting-house,  which  it  is  said  will  hold  nearly 
six  thousand  people,  and  was  well  filled,  even  the 
aisles.  Evening  he  preached  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Rodgers'  meeting-house  in  Kittery,  and  yesterday  at 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Lyman's  in  York,  to  which  place  a 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  town  accom- 
panied him.  This  morning  [Friday]  he  will  preach 
at  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon's  meeting-house  in  this 
town." 

We  are  now  approaching  the  closing  scene,  and 
are  invited  to  hear  Whitefield's  last  sermon.  On  his 
way  to  Newburyport,  where  he  had  engaged  to  preach 
on  Sunday  morning,  September  30,  he  was  entreated 
to  preach  at  Exeter.  This  had  been  the  scene  of 
sonic  of  his  former  triumphs.  He  was  once  preaching 
here,  when  a  man  was  present  who  had  loaded  his 
pocket  with  stones  to  throw  at  the  preacher.  He 

Whitefield.  19 

* 


434  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

heard  his  prayer  with  patience,  but  as  soon  as  he  had 
read  his  text,  the  man  took  a  stone  out  of  his  pocket 
and  held  it  in  his  hand,  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to 
throw  it.  But  God  sent  a  word  to  his  heart,  and  the 
stone  dropped  from  his  hand.  After  the  sermon,  the 
poor  fellow  went  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  said,  "Sir, 
I  came  here  to-day  with  the  intention  of  breaking 
your  head,  but  God  has  given  me  a  broken  heart." 
This  man  was  converted  to  God,  and  lived  an  orna- 
ment to  the  gospel. 

As  though  it  had  been  felt  by  the  public  that  this 
might  be  our  preacher's  last  sermon,  inconvenient  as 
Saturday  noon  must  be  for  the  assembling  of  a  con- 
gregation for  worship,  such  a  multitude  was  collected 
that  no  house  could  contain  them,  and  Whitefieldj  for 
nearly  two  hours,  discoursed  to  an  attentive  crowd  in 
the  open  air.  Of  this  last  sermon  at  Exeter,  a  gen- 
tleman who  was  present  has  given  a  deeply  interest- 
ing and  affecting  account.  The  relator  was  then  in 
his  eighty-sixth  year,  but  he  retained  a  strong  remem- 
brance of  the  most  trivial  incidents  connected  with 
that  extraordinary  man.  He  says  : 

"It  was  usual  for  Mr.  Whitefield  to  be  attended 
by  Mr.  Smith,  who  preached  when  he  was  unable  on 
account  of  sudden  attacks  of  asthma.  At  the  time 
referred  to,  after  Mr.  Smith  had  delivered  a  short 
discourse,  Mr.  Whitefield  seemed  desirous  of  speak- 
ing ;  but  from  the  weak  state  in  which  he  then  was, 
it  was  thought  almost  impossible.  He  rose  from  the 
seat  in  the  pulpit,  and  stood  erect,  and  his  appearance 
alone  was  a  powerful  sermon.  The  thinness  of  his 
visage,  the  paleness  of  his  countenance,  the  evident 


LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA.  435 

struggling  of  the  heavenly  spark  in  a  decayed  body 
for  utterance,  were  all  deeply  interesting ;  the  spirit 
was  willing,  but  the  flesh  was  dying.  In  this  situation 
he  remained  several  minutes,  unable  to  speak  ;  he  then 
said,  '  I  will  wait  for  the  gracious  assistance  of  God, 
for  he  will,  I  am  certain,  assist  me  once  more  to  speak 
in  his  name.'  He  then  delivered  perhaps  one  of  his 
best  sermons,  for  the  light  generally  burns  most  splen- 
didly when  about  to  expire.  The  subject  was  a  con- 
trast of  the  present  with  the  future ;  a  part  of  this 
sermon  I  read  to  a  popular  and  learned  clergyman  in 
New  York,  who  could  not  refrain  from  weeping  when 
I  repeated  the  following :  '  I  go,  I  go  to  rest  prepar- 
ed ;  my  sun  has  arisen,  and  by  aid  from  heave^  given 
light  to  many ;  't  is  now  about  to  set  for — no,  it  can- 
not be !  't  is  to  rise  to  the  zenith  of  immortal  glory ;  I 
have  outlived  many  on  earth,  but  they  cannot  outlive 
me  in  heaven.  Many  shall  live  when  this  body  is  no 
more,  but  then — Oh,  thought  divine ! — I  shall  be  in  a 
world  where  time,  age,  pain,  and  sorrow  are  un- 
known. My  body  fails,  my  spirit  expands  ;  how  will- 
ingly would  I  live  for  ever  to  preach  Christ !  but  I 
die  to  be  with  him.  How  brief,  comparatively  brief, 
has  been  my  life,  compared  with  the  vast  labors  I  see 
before  me  yet  to  be  accomplished ;  but  if  I  leave  now, 
while  so  few  care  about  heavenly  things,  the  God  of 
peace  will  surely  visit  you.'  These,  and  many  other 
things  he  said,  which,  though  simple,  were  rendered 
important  by  circumstances  ;  for  death  had  let  fly  his 
arrow,  and  the  shaft  was  deeply  enfixed  when  utter- 
ance was  given  to  them :  his  countenance,  his  tremu- 
lous voice,  his  debilitated  frame,  all  gave  convincing 


436  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

evidence  that  the  eye  which  saw  him  should  shortly 
see  him  no  more  for  ever.  When  I  visited  the  place 
where  he  is  entombed,  Newburyport,  I  could  not  help 
saying,  '  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.'  Few  are 
there  like  George  Whitefield ;  however  zealous,  they 
do  not  possess  the  masterly  power,  and  those  who  do, 
too  often  turn  it  to  a  purpose  that  does  not  glorify 
God." 

"We  have  already  spoken  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Rodg- 
ers,  a  descendant  of  the  martyr  of  that  name,  and 
pastor  of  the  second  congregational  church  at  Exeter. 
It  was  this  old  friend  of  Whitefield  who  had  impor- 
tuned him  to  preach  at  Exeter.  The  "  Jllmanack 
Journal "  of  this  excellent  man  contains  the  following 
items  of  the  activity  of  our  "  eloquent  oratpr  "  in  his 
closing  days :  "  September  10,  1770,  dear  Mr.  White- 
field  preached  here,  A.  M.,  ten  o'clock,  llth,  Mr. 
Whitefield  preached  again  in  Mr.  Parsons'  meeting- 
house. 12th,  I  rode  over  to  Rowley,  Mr.  Whitefield 
preached  there.  14th,  a  storm  of  rain.  15th,  the 
rain  continues.  Mr.  Whitefield  went  to  Boston,  not 
well.  25th,  I  heard  dear  Mr.  Whitefield  preach. 
26th,  he  went  to  Kittery,  and  preached  for  brother 
John ;  P.  M.  I  rode  to  York.  27th,  Mr.  Whitefield 
preached  at  York  ;  p.  M.  we  returned  to  Portsmouth. 
28th,  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  his  farewell  sermon ; 
I  returned  home.  29th,  dear  Mr.  Whitefield  preached 
for  me  the  last  sermon  he  ever  preached." 

Mr.  Smith's  account  of  the  closing  scene  will  not 
be  considered  too  minute  in  its  details.  "  Before  he 
commenced  his  journey  of  fifteen  miles  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Exeter,  Mr.  Clarksou,  senior,  observing  him 


DEATH  AND  FUNERAL.  43T 

more  uneasy  than  usual,  said  to  him,  '  Sir,  you  are 
more  fit  to  go  to  bed  than  to  preach.'  Whitefield's 
reply  was,  '  True,  sir ;'  but  turning  aside,  he  clasped 
his  hands  together,  and  looking  up,  said,  '  Lord  Jesus, 

1  am  weary  in  thy  work,  but  not  of  thy  work.     If  I 
have  not  yet  finished  my  course,  let  me  go  and  speak 
for  thee  once  more  in  the  fields,  seal  thy  truth,  and 
come  home  and   die.'     His  last  sermon  was  from 

2  Cor.  13:5,'  Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in 
the  faith.    Know  ye  not  your  own  selves,  how  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye  be  reprobates  ?'    He 
dined  at  Captain  Gillman's.    After  dinner,  Mr.  White- 
field  and  Mr.  Parsons  rode  to  Newbury.    I  did  not 
get  there  till  two  hours  after  them.     I  found  them  at 
supper.    I  asked  Mr.  Whitefield  how  he  felt  after  his 
journey.     He  said  he  was  tired,  therefore  he  supped 
early,  and  went  to  bed.     He  ate  a  very  little  supper, 
talked  but  little,  asked  Mr.  Parsons  to  discharge  the 
table,  and  perform  family  duty,  and  then  retired  up 
stairs." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hallock  tells  us,  that,  in  1822,  he 
visited  Newburyport  and  the  tomb  of  Whitefield.  He 
was  then  told  by  persons  whom  'he  considered  reliable, 
that  when  Whitefield  was  retiring  to  his  chamber  on 
this  last  evening  of  his  life,  many  were  so  desirous  to 
see  and  hear  him,  that  he  stood  on  the  stairs  with  a 
lamp  in  his  hand,  and  there  gave  them  a  tender  spir- 
itual address. 

We  resume  Mr.  Smith's  account :  "  He  said  he 
would  sit  and  read  till  I  came  to  him,  which  I  did  as 
soon  as  possible;  and  found  him  reading  the  Bible, 
with  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms  lying  open  before  him.  He 


438  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

asked  me  for  some  water-gruel,  and  took  about  half 
his  usual  quantity ;  and  kneeling  down  by  his  bedside, 
closed  the  evening  with  prayer.  After  a  little  con- 
versation, he  went  to  rest,  and  slept  till  two  in  the 
morning,  when  he  awoke,  and  asked  for  a  little  cider ; 
he  drank  about  a  wine-glass  full.  I  asked  him  how 
he  felt,  for  he  seemed  to  pant  for  breath.  He  said  to 
me,  '  My  asthma  is  coming  on  again ;  I  must  have  two 
or  three  days'  rest.  Two  or  three  days'  riding,  with- 
out preaching,  would  set  me  up  again.'  Soon  after- 
wards, he  asked  me  to  put  the  window  up  a  little 
higher,  though  it  was  half  up  all  night.  '  For,'  said 
he,  '  I  cannot  breathe ;  but  I  hope  I  shall  be  better  by 
and  by :  a  good  pulpit  sweat  to-day  may  give  me  re- 
lief; I  shall  be  better  after  preaching.'  I  said  to  him, 
'  I  wish  you  would  not  preach  so  often.'  He  replied, 
'  I  had  rather  wear  out  than  rust  out.'  I  then  told 
him,  I  was  afraid  he  took  cold  in  preaching  yesterday. 
He  said  he  believed  he  had  ;  and  then  sat  up  in  bed, 
and  prayed  that  God  would  be  pleased  to  bless  his 
preaching  where  he  had  been,  and  also  bless  his 
preaching  that  day,  that  more  souls  might  be  brought 
to  Christ.  He  prayed  for  direction  whether  he  should 
winter  in  Boston,  or  hasten  to  the  southward  ;  and  he 
prayed  for  a  blessing  on  his  Bethesda  college,  and  his 
dear  family  there,  for  the  Tabernacle  and  Chapel  con- 
gregations, and  all  connections  on  the  other  side  of 
the  water ;  and  then  he  laid  himself  down  to  sleep 
again. 

"  This  was  near  three  o'clock.  At  a  quarter  past 
four  he  awoke,  and  said,  'My  asthma,  my  asthma  is 
coming  on ;  I  wish  I  had  not  given  out  word  to 


DEATH  AND  FUNERAL.  439 

preach  at  Haverhill  on  Monday ;  I  don't  think  I 
shall  be  able ;  but  I  shall  see  what  to-day  will  bring 
forth.  If  I  am  no  better  to-morrow,  I  will  take  two 
or  three  days'  ride !'  He  then  desired  me  to  warm 
him  a  little  gruel ;  and  in  breaking  the  fire-wood,  I 
waked  Mr.  Parsons,  who  thinking  I  knocked  for  him, 
rose  and  came  in.  He  went  to  Mr.  Whitefield's  bed- 
side, and  asked  him  how  he  felt.  He  answered,  '  I 
am  almost  suffocated.  I  can  scarcely  breathe,  my 
asthma  quite  chokes  me.'  I  was  then  not  a  little  sur- 
prised to  hear  how  quickly,  and  with  what  difficulty 
he  drew  his  breath.  He  got  out  of  bed,  and  went  to 
the  open  window  for  air.  This  was  exactly  at  five 
o'clock.  I  went  to  him,  and  for  about  the  space  of 
five  minutes  saw  no  danger,  only  that  he  had  a  great 
difficulty  in  breathing,  as  I  had  often  seen  before. 
Soon  afterwards,  he  turned  himself  to  me,  and  said, 
1 1  am  dying.'  I  said,  '  I  hope  not,  sir.'  He  ran  to 
the  other  window,  panting  for  breath,  but  could  get 
no  relief.  It  was  agreed  that  I  should  go  for  Dr. 
Sawyer  ;  and  on  my  coming  back,  I  saw  death  on  his 
face  ;  and  he  again  said,  '/  am  dying.'  His  eyes  were 
fixed,  his  underlip  drawing  inward  every  time  he 
drew  breath.  I  persuaded  him  to  sit  down  in  the 
chair,  and  have  his  cloak  on, ;  he  consented  by  a  sign, 
but  could  not  speak.  I  then  offered  him  a  glass  of 
warm  wine ;  he  took  half  of  it,  but  it  seemed  as  if  it 
would  have  stopped  his  breath  entirely.  He  went 
towards  the  window,  and  we  offered  him  some  warm 
wine,  with  lavender  drops,  which  he  refused. 

"In  a  little  time  he  brought  up  a  considerable 
quantity  of  phlegm.    I  then  began  to  have  some  small 


440  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

hopes.  Mr.  Parsons  said  he  thought  Mr.  Whitefield 
breathed  more  freely  than  he  did,  and  would  recover. 
I  said,  'No,  sir,  he  is  certainly  dying.'  I  was  contin- 
ually employed  in  taking  the  phlegm  out  of  his  mouth 
with  a  handkerchief,  and  bathing  his  temples  with 
drops,  rubbing  his  wrists,  etc.,  to  give  him  relief,  if 
possible,  but  all  in  vain ;  his  hands  and  feet  were  as 
cold  as  clay.  When  the  doctor  came  in,  and  saw  him 
in  the  chair  leaning  upon  my  breast,  he  felt  his  pulse, 
and  said,  '  He  is  a  dead  man.'  Mr.  Parsons  said,  '  I 
do  not  believe  it ;  you  must  do  something,  doctor.' 
He  said,  'I  cannot;  he  is  now  near  his  last  breath.' 
And  so  indeed  it  was ;  for  he  fetched  but  one  gasp, 
and  stretched  out  his  feet,  and  breathed  no  more. 
This  was  exactly  at  six  o'clock.  We  continued  rub- 
bing his  legs,  hands,  and  feet,  with  warm  cloths,  and 
bathed  him  with  spirits  for  some  time,  but  all  in  vain. 
I  then  put  him  into  a  warm  bed,  the  doctor  standing 
by,  and  often  raised  him  upright,  continued  rubbing 
him  and  putting  spirits  to  his  nose  for  an  hour,  till 
all  hopes  were  gone.  The  people  came  in  crowds  to 
see  him." 

Whitefield  seems  to  have  had  somewhat  of  a  pre- 
sentiment that  his  death  would  be  unattended  with 
any  remarkable  expression  of  spiritual  enjoyment. 
In  his  last  preceding  visit  to  this  country,  he  had 
spent  a  day  or  two  under  the  roof  of  the  Eev.  Dr. 
Finley,  then  president  of  the  college  at  Princeton, 
New  Jersey.  One  day  Dr.  Finley  said  at  the  dinner- 
table,  "  Mr.  Whitefield,  I  hope  it  will  be  very  long 
before  you  will  be  called  home ;  but  when  that  event 
shall  arrive,  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  the  noble  testimony 


DEATH  AND  FUNERAL.  441 

you  will  bear  for  God."  Whitefield  replied,  "You 
would  be  disappointed,  doctor  ;  I  shall  die  silent.  It 
has  pleased  God  to  enable  me  to  bear  so  many  testi- 
monies for  him  during  my  life,  that  he  will  require 
none  from  me  when  I  die.  No,  no.  It  is  your  dumb 
Christians,  who  have  walked  in  fear  and  darkness, 
and  thereby  been  unable  to  bear  a  testimony  for  God 
during  their  lives,  that  he  compels  to  speak  out  for 
him  on  their  death-beds." 

We  resume  Mr.  Smith's  narrative  :  "  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Parsons,  at  whose  house  my  dear  master  died,  sent  for 
Captain  Fetcomb,  and  Mr.  Boadman,  and  others  of 
his  elders  and  deacons,  and  they  took  the  whole  of 
the  burial  upon  themselves,  prepared  the  vault,  and 
sent  and  invited  the  bearers.  Many  ministers  of  all 
persuasions  came  to  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Par- 
sons, where  several  of  them  gave  a  very  particular 
account  of  their  first  awakenings  under  his  ministry 
several  years  ago,  and  also  of  many  in  their  congrega- 
tions that,  to  their  knowledge,  under  God,  owed  their 
conversion  to  his  coming  among  them,  often  referring 
to  the  blessed  seasons  they  had  enjoyed  under  his 
preaching  ;  and  all  said,  that  this  last  visit  was  attend- 
ed with  more  power  than  any  other,  and  that  all  oppo- 
sition fell  before  him.  Then  one  and  another  would 
pity  and  pray  for  his  dear  Tabernacle  and  Chapel 
congregations,  and  it  was  truly  affecting  to  hear  them 
bemoan  America  and  England's  loss.  Thus  they 
continued  for  two  hours,  conversing  about  his  great 
usefulness,  and  praying  that  God  would  scatter  his 
gifts,  and  drop  his  mantle  among  them." 

Dr.  Gillies  says,  "  Early  next  morning,  Mr.  Sher- 
19* 


;-' 

442  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD.' 

burn  of  Portsmouth  sent  Mr.  Clarkson  and  Dr. 
Haven  with  a  message  to  Mr.  Parsons,  desiring  that 
Mr.  Whitefield's  remains  might  be  buried  in  his  own 
new  tomb,  at  his  own  expense ;  and  in  the  evening 
several  gentlemen  from  Boston  came  to  Mr.  Parsons, 
desiring  the  body  might  be  carried  there.  But  as 
Mr.  Whitefield  had  repeatedly  desired  to  be  buried 
before  Mr.  Parsons'  pulpit,  if  he  died  at  Newburyport, 
Mr.  Parsons  thought  himself  obliged  to  deny  both 
these  requests." 

Mr.  Parsons,  in  a  note  to  his  funeral  sermon,  says, 
"  At  one  o'clock  all  the  bells  in  the  town  were  tolled 
for  half  an  hour,  and  all  the  vessels  in  the  harbor 
gave  their  proper  signals  of  mourning.  At  two  o'clock 
the  bells  tolled  a  second  time.  At  three  the  bells 
called  to  attend  the  funeral.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Haven 
of  Portsmouth,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Rodgers  of  Ex- 
eter, Jewet  and  Chandler  of  Rowley,  Moses  Par- 
sons of  Newbury,  and  Bass  of  Newburyport,  were 
pall-bearers.  Mr.  Parsons  and  his  family,  with  many 
other  respectable  persons,  followed  the  corpse  in 
mourning." 

"  The  procession,"  says  Mr.  Smith,  "  was  only  one 
mile,  and  then  the  corpse  was  carried  into  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  placed  at  the  foot  of  the  pulpit, 
close  to  the  vault ;  the  Rev.  Daniel  Rodgers  made  a 
very  affecting  prayer,  and  openly  declared,  that,  un- 
der God,  he  owed  his  conversion  to  that  dear  man 
of  God  whose  precious  remains  now  lay  before  them. 
Then  he  cried  out,  '  0  my  father,  my  father  1'  then 
stopped  and  wept  as  though  his  heart  would  break ; 
the  people  weeping  all  through  the  place.  Then  he 


" 

DEATH  AND  FUNERAL.  443 

recovered,  and  finished  his  prayer,  and  sat  down  and 

wept.     Then  one  of  the  deacons  gave  out  the  hymn, , 

"'Why  do  we  mourn  departing  friends?' 

some  of  the  people  weeping,  some  singing,  and  so  on 
alternately.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Jewet  preached  a  funeral 
discourse ;  and  made  an  affectionate  address  to  his 
brethren,  to  lay  to  heart  the  death  of  that  useful  man 
of  God,  begging  that  he  and  they  might  be  upon  their 
watchtower,  and  endeavor  to  follow  his  blessed  exam- 
ple. The  corpse  was  then  put  into  the  vault,  and  all 
concluded  with  a  short  prayer,  and  dismission  of  the 
people,  who  went  weeping  through  the  streets  to  their 
respective  places  of  abode." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Rodgers,  from  whose  "Almanack 
Journal "  we  have  quoted,  records  that  the  vast  assem- 
bly at  the  funeral  consisted  of  "four,  since  thought 
five  thousand  people,"  and  adds,  Oct.  7,  "  I  preached 
from  those  words  in  the  first  Philippians,  '  Having  a 
desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,'  etc.  I  spoke 
extempore,  somewhat  largely,  of  dear  Mr.  Whitefield's 
character." 

The  late  venerable  Mr.  Bartlet  of  Newburyport, 
some  years  ago,  erected  a  monument  to  the  memory 
of  Whitefield  in  the  church  beneath  which  Ms  remains 
are  interred.  The  cenotaph  was  executed  by  Mr. 
Struthers  of  Philadelphia,  after  a  design  of  Strick- 
land, and  the  inscription  which  follows  was  written 
by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Ebenezer  Porter,  of  the  Theo- 
logical seminary  at  Andover. 


444  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

THIS   CENOTAPH 

IS  ERECTED,  WITH  AFFECTIONATE  VENERATION, 

®o  llje  JHemorg 

OF 

THE   REV.   GEORGE   WHITEFIELD, 

BORN  AT  GLOUCESTER,  ENGLAND,  DECEMBER  16,  1714; 
EDUCATED  AT  OXFORD  UNIVERSITY;  ORDAINED  1736. 

IN  A  MINISTRY  OF  THIRTY-FOUR  YEARS, 

HE   CROSSED  THE  ATLANTIC  THIRTEEN  TIMES, 

AND   PREACHED   MORE  THAN  EIGHTEEN  THOUSAND   SERMONS. 

AS  A  SOLDIER  OP  THE  CROSS,   HUMBLE,   DEVOUT,  ARDENT, 

HE  PUT  ON  THE  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD  : 
PREFERRING  THE  HONOR   OF    CHRIST  TO  HIS  OWN  INTEREST,  REPOSE, 

REPUTATION,  AND  LIFE. 
AS  A  CHRISTIAN  ORATOR,   HIS  DEEP  PIETT,   DISINTERESTED  ZEAL, 

AND  VIVID  IMAGINATION, 
GAVE   UNEXAMPLED  ENERGY  TO  HIS  LOOK,  UTTERANCE,  AND  ACTION. 

BOLD,  FERVENT,   PUNGENT,  AND  POPULAR  IN  HIS  ELOQUENCE, 
NO   OTHER  UNINSPIRED  MAN  EVER  PREACHED  TO  SO  LARGE   ASSEMBLIES, 

OR   ENFORCED   THE   SIMPLE   TRUTHS   OF  THE    GOSPEL  BY   MOTIVES 
SO  PERSUASIVE  AND   AWFUL,  AND   WITH   AN    INFLUENCE   SO   POWER- 
FUL,  ON    THE    HEARTS   OF    HIS    HEARERS. 

HE  DIED  OF  ASTHMA,  SEPTEMBER  30,  1770. 

SUDDENLY  EXCHANGING  HIS  LIFE  OF  UNPARALLELED  LABORS 

FOR  HIS  ETERNAL  REST. 


•*. 


*     * 


•1 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  445 


CHAPTER  XYII. 

TESTIMONIES  AND  FACTS  ILLUSTRATIVE  OF  WHITE- 
FIELD'S   CHARACTER. 

"  LAST  evening,"  says  a  letter  from  Boston,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1770,  to  the  "Pennsylvania  Journal,"  "we  were 
informed  by  a  melancholy  messenger  from  Newbury- 
port,  that  yesterday  morning  about  six  o'clock,  at  that 
place,  the  renowned  and  Rev.  George  Whitefield, 
chaplain  to  the  Right  Hon.  the  Countess  of  Hunting- 
don, etc.,  was,  by  a  sudden  mandate,  summoned  to  the 
bosom  of  his  Saviour.  He  had  been  preaching  in 
divers  parts  of  this  province  since  his  arrival  from 
the  southward,  with  his  usual  diligence  and  energy  ; 
was  now  from  a  tour  to  the  province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire on  his  return  to  this  town,  but  being  seized  with 
a  violent  fit  of  the  asthma,  was  in  a  short  space  trans- 
lated from  the  labors  of  this  life  to  the  enjoyment  of 
a  better. 

"  Of  this  truly  pious  and  very  extraordinary  per- 
sonage, little  can  be  said  but  what  every  friend  to 
vital  Christianity  who  has  sat  under  his  ministry  will 
readily  attest.  In  his  public  performances  through- 
out Europe  and  British  America,  he  has,  for  a  long 
course  of  years,  astonished  the  world  as  a  prodigy  of 
eloquence  and  devotion.  With  what  frequency  and 
cheerfulness  did  he  ascend  the  desk,  the  language  of 
his  actions  being  ever,  '  Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be 
about  my  Master's  business  ?'  With  what  divine  pa- 
thos did  he  plead  with,  and  persuade  by  the  most  engag- 


446  GEORGE  WHITBFIELD. 

ing  incitements,  the  impenitent  sinner  to  the  practice 
of  piety  and  virtue.  Filled  with  the  spirit  of  grace, 
he  spoke  from  the  heart ;  and  with  a  fervency  of  zeal 
perhaps  unequalled  since  the  apostles,  ornamented 
the  celestial  annunciations  of  the  preacher  with  the 
graceful  and  most  enticing  charms  of  rhetoric  and 
oratory.  From  the  pulpit  he  was  unrivalled  in  the 
command  of  an  ever-crowded  and  admiring  auditory ; 
nor  was  he  less  entertaining  and  instructive  in  his 
private  conversation  and  deportment.  Happy  in  a 
remarkable  ease  of  address,  willing  to  communicate, 
studious  to  edify,  and  formed  to  amuse — such,  in 
more  retired  life,  was  he  whom  we  lament.  And  while 
a  peculiar  pleasantry  enlivened  and  rendered  his  com- 
pany agreeable,  his  conversation  was  ever  marked 
with  the  greatest  objects  of  his  pursuit — virtue  and 
religion.  It  were  to  be  wished  that  the  good  impres- 
sions of  his  ministry  may  be  long  retained  ;  and  that 
the  rising  generation,  like  their  pious  ancestors,  may 
catch  a  spark  of  that  ethereal  flame  which  burnt  with 
such  lustre  in  the  sentiments  and  practice  of  this 
faithful  servant  of  the  most  high  God." 

Another  contemporaneous  article  says,  "Dr.  Coop- 
er of  Brattle-street,  called  an  enthusiast  by  none,  won 
early  to  serious  religion  by  his  [Whitefield's]  instru- 
mentality, delivered  a  sermon  upon  his  death,  in  which 
he  pronounced  a  strong  eulogy  in  favor  of  his  holy 
and  successful  activity  in  the  cause  of  vital  and  prac- 
tical religion  through  the  English  dominions.  Pews, 
aisles,  and  seats  were  so  crowded,  and  heads  and 
shoulders  were  in  such  close  phalanx,  that  it  looked 
as  though  a  man  might  walk  everywhere  upon  the  up- 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  447 

per  surface  of  the  assembly,  without  finding  an  open- 
ing for  descending  to  the  floor." 

When  the  news  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  death  reached 
Georgia,  its  inhabitants  vied  with  each  other  in  show- 
ing him  the  highest  respect.  All  the  black  cloth  in 
the  stores  was  bought  up ;  the  pulpit  and  desk  of  the 
church,  the  branches,  the  organ-loft,  and  the  pews  of 
the  governor  and  council  were  covered  with  black. 
The  governor  and  council  in  deep  mourning  convened 
at  the  state-house,  and  went  in  procession  to  church, 
where  they  were  received  by  the  organ  playing  a  fu- 
neral dirge.  Two  funeral  sermons  were  there  listened 
to  by  the  authorities.  In  the  Legislature  high  eulo- 
giums  were  pronounced  on  the  admirable  preacher, 
and  a  sum  of  money  was  unanimously  appropriated 
for  removing  his  remains  to  Georgia,  to  be  interred 
at  his  orphan-house  ;  but  the  inhabitants  of  Newbury- 
port  strongly  objected,  and  the  design  was  relinquish- 
ed. Forty-five  years  later  when  a  new  county  was 
formed  in  Georgia,  it  received  the  name  of  WHITE- 
FIELD  in  commemoration  of  his  worth  and  useful  ser- 
vices. 

In  a  letter  from  Dr.  Franklin  to  a  gentleman  in 
Georgia,  he  says,  "I  cannot  forbear  expressing  the 
pleasure  it  gives  me  to  see  an  account  of  the  respect 
paid  to  his  memory  by  your  assembly.  I  knew  him 
intimately  upwards  of  thirty  years  ;  his  integrity,  dis- 
interestedness, and  indefatigable  zeal  in  prosecuting 
every  good  work,  I  have  never  seen  equalled,  I  shall 
never  see  excelled." 

Of  course  it  would  be  expected  that  the  sermons 
at  Savannah  would  be  of  great  interest.  Such  a  dis- 


448  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

course  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellington,  who 
very  truly  said,  "  Whitefield's  longing  desires  for  the 
salvation  of  immortal  souls  would  not  admit  of  his 
being  confined  within  the  limits  of  any  walls.  How 
he  has  preached,  with  showers  of  stones,  and  many 
other  instruments  of  malice  and  revenge  about  his 
ears,  many  of  his  surviving  friends  can  witness.  But 
having  the  salvation  of  sinners  at  heart,  and  a  great 
desire  to  rescue  them  from  the  power  of  an  eternal 
death,  he  resolved  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  the  ser- 
vice of  precious  and  immortal  souls  j  and  spared  no 
pains  and  refused  no  labor,  so  that  he  might  adminis- 
ter to  their  real  and  eternal  good.  He  died  like  a 
hero  on  the  field  of  battle.  Thousands  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  America  have  great  reason  to  bless 
God  for  his  ministrations." 

Who  shall  attempt  to  describe  the  feelings  of  the 
congregations  atthe  Tabernacle  and  Tottenham  Court 
chapels,  when  the  news  of  their  pastor's  death  first 
reached  them?  All  were  indeed  clothed  in  mourn- 
ing. By  Whitefield's  own  previous  appointment,  the 
Rev.  John  Wesley  preached  the  funeral  sermon  at 
Tottenham  Court-road  chapel.  The  preacher  bore 
this  testimony :  "  In  his  public  labors  he  has  for  many 
years  astonished  the  world  with  his  eloquence  and 
devotion.  With  what  divine  pathos  did  he  persuade 
the  impenitent  sinner  to  embrace  the  practice  of  early 
piety  and  virtue.  Filled  with  the  spirit  of  grace,  he 
spoke  from  the  heart  with  a  fervency  of  zeal  perhaps 
unequalled  since  the  days  of  the  apostles ;  and  adorn- 
ed the  truths  he  delivered  with  the  most  graceful 
charms  of  rhetoric  and  oratory.  Prom  the  pulpit  he 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  449 

was  unrivalled  in  the  command  of  an  ever-crowded 
auditory.  It  was  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  his 
heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost  which  filled  his  soul  with 
tender,  disinterested  love  to  every  child  of  man.  .  .  . 
Mention  has  been  already  made  of  his  unparalleled 
zeal,  his  indefatigable  activity,  his  tender-heartedness 
to  the  afflicted,  and  charitableness  towards  the  .poor. 
But  should  we  not  likewise  mention  his  deep  grati- 
tude to  all  whom  God  had  used  as  instruments  of 
good  to  him  ?  of  whom  he  did  not  cease  to  speak  in 
the  most  respectful  manner,  even  to  his  dying  day. 
Should  we  not  mention  that  he  had  a  heart  suscepti- 
ble of  the  most  generous  and  the  most  tender  friend- 
ship ?  I  have  frequently  thought  that  this,  of  all  oth- 
ers, was  the  distinguishing  part  of  his  character.  How 
few  have  we  known  of  so  kind  a  temper,  of  such  large 
arid  flowing  affections !  Was  it  not  principally  by 
this  that  the  hearts  of  others  were  so  strongly  drawn 
and  knit  to  him?  Can  any  thing  but  love  beget  love? 
This  shone  in  his  very  countenance,  and  continually 
breathed  in  all  his  words,  whether  in  public  or  pri- 
vate. Was  it  not  this  which,  quick  and  penetrating 
as  lightning,  flew  from  heart  to  heart;  which  gave 
that  life  to  his  sermons,  his  conversation,  his  letters? 
Ye  are  witnesses." 

The  Rev.  John  Newton  preached  a  funeral  sermon 
at  Olney,  where  he  was  then  settled,  from  the  highly 
appropriate  text,  "He  was  a  burning  and  a  shining 
light,"  John  5  :  35,  in  which  he  thus  speaks  of  White- 
field:  "Some  ministers  are  burning  and  shining  lights 
in  a  peculiar  and  eminent  degree.  Such  a  one,  I  doubt 
not,  was  the  servant  of  God  whose  death  we  now  la- 


450  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ment.  I  have  had  some  opportunities  of  looking  over 
the  history  of  the  church  in  past  ages ;  I  am  not  back- 
ward to  say.  that  I  have  not  read  or  heard  of  any 
person,  since  the  apostles'  days,  of  whom  it  may  be 
more  emphatically  said,'  He  was  a  burning  and  a  shin- 
ing light,'  than  the  late  Mr.  Whitefield ;  whether  we 
consider  the  warmth  of  his  zeal,  the  greatness  of  his 
ministerial  talents,  or  the  extensive  usefulness  with 
which  the  Lord  honored  him.  I  do  not  mean  to  praise 
the  man,  but  the  Lord  who  furnished  him,  and  made 
Mm  what  he  was.  He  was  raised  up  to  shine  in  a 
dark  place.  The  state  of  religion  when  he  first  ap- 
peared in  public,  was  very  low  in  our  established 
church.  I  speak  the  truth,  though  to  some  it  may  be 
an  offensive  truth.  The  doctrines  of  grace  were  sel- 
dom heard  from  the  pulpit,  and  the  life  and  power  of 
godliness  were  little  known.  Many  of  the  most  spir- 
itual among  the  dissenters,  were  mourning  under  a 
sense  of  a  great  spreading  declension  on  their  side. 
What  a  change  has  taken  place  throughout  the  land 
within  a  little  more  than  thirty  years ;  that  is,  since 
the  time  when  the  first  set  of  despised  ministers  came 
to  Oxford !  And  how  much  of  this  change  has  been 
owing  to  God's  blessing  on  Mr.  Wbitefield's  labors, 
is  well  known  to  many  who  have  lived  through  this 
period,  and  can  hardly  be  denied  by  those  who  are 

least  willing  to  allow  it His  zeal  was  not  like 

wildfire,  but  directed  by  sound  principles,  and  a  sound 

judgment The  Lord  gave  him  a  manner  of 

preaching  which  was  peculiarly  his  own.  He  copied 
from  none,  and  I  never  met  with  any  one  who  could 
imitate  him  with  success." 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  451 

With  regret  we  tear  ourselves  away  from  Romaine 
and  Toplady,  from  Pemberton  and  Parsons,  and  from 
a  multitude  of  others  who  bore  testimonies  like  those 
we  have  given,  but  which  would  exceed  the  limits  of 
our  narrative. 

Mr.  Newton,  after  his  removal  to  London,  once 
breakfasting  with  a  company  of  noblemen  and  gentle- 
men, was  asked  if  he  knew  Mr.  Whitefield.  He 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  remarked,  that  as  a 
preacher  Mr.  Whitefield  far  exceeded  every  other 
man  of  his  time.  Mr.  Newton  added,  "  I  bless  God 
that  I  lived  in  his  time  :  many  were  the  winter  morn- 
ings I  rose  at  four  o'clock  to  attend  his  Tabernacle 
discourses  at  five  ;  and  I  have  seen  Moorfields  as  full 
of  lanterns  at  these  times,  as  I  suppose  the  Haymarket 
is  full  of  flambeaux  on  an  opera  night."  As  a  proof 
of  the  power  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching,  Mr.  New- 
ton said,  that  a  military  officer  at  Glasgow,  who  had 
heard  him  preach,  laid  a  wager  with  another,  that  at 
a  certain  charity  sermon,  though  he  went  with  preju- 
dice, he  would  be  compelled  to  give  something.  The 
other,  to  make  sure  that  he  would  not,  laid  aside  all 
the  money  out  of  his  pockets  ;  but  before  he  left  the 
church,  he  was  glad  to  borrow  some,  and  lose  his  bet. 
Mr.  Newton  mentioned  as  another  striking  illustration 
of  Mr.  Whitefield's  persuasive  oratory,  his  collecting 
after  one  sermon  £600,  or  about  $3,000,  for  the  inhab- 
itants of  an  obscure  village  in  Germany,  that  had  been 
burned  down.  After  this  sermon,  Whitefield  said, 
"  We  shall  sing  a  hymn,  during  which  those  who  do 
not  choose  to  give  their  mite  on  this  awful  occasion, 
may  sneak  off."  Not  one  moved  ;  he  came  down 


452  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

from  the  pulpit,  ordered  all  the  doors  to  be  shut  but 
one,  at  which  he  held  the  plate  himself,  and  collected 
the  large  sum  we  have  named.  Mr.  Newton  farther 
stated  what  he  knew  to  be  a  fact,  that  at  the  time 
of  Whitefield's  greatest  persecution,  when  obliged 
to  speak  in  the  streets,  in  one  week  he  received 
not  fewer  than  a  thousand  letters  from  persons  dis- 
tressed in  their  consciences  by  the  energy  of  his 
preaching. 

A  gentleman  of  title  in  England  was  one  day  ex- 
amining some  works  of  the  distinguished  sculptor, 
John  Bacon.  Among  them  he  observed  a  bust  of  Mr. 
Whitefield,  which  led  him  to  remark,  "  After  all  that 
has  been  said,  this  was  truly  a  great  man ;  he  was 
the  founder  of  a  new  religion."  Mr.  Bacon  replied, 
"A  new  religion,  sir?"  "Yes,"  said  the  baronet; 
"what  do  you  call  it?"  "Nothing,"  was  the  re- 
ply, "  but  the  old  religion  revived  with  new  energy, 
and  treated  as  though  the  preacher  meant  what  he 
said." 

Several  interesting  narratives  have  been  given  of 
visits  to  the  tomb  of  Whitefield,  which  show  the  pre- 
ciousness  of  his  memory. 

In  1834,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Reed,  D.  D.,  of  Lon- 
don, and  the  late  Rev.  James  Matheson,  D.  D.,  of 
Durham,  visited  this  country  as  a  deputation  to  its 
churches  from  the  Congregational  Union  of  England 
and  Wales.  In  describing  their  visit  to  Newbury- 
port,  Dr.  Reed  says,  "  We  had  a  conference  with  the 
pastors  here,  and  afterwards  went  to  the  church 
which  is  enriched  with  the  remains  of  Whitefield. 
The  elders  of  the  church  were  present  in  the  porch 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  453 

to  receive  us.  We  descended  to  the  vault.  There 
were  three  coffins  before  us.  Two  pastors  of  the 
church  lay  on  either  side,  and  the  remains  of  White- 
field  in  the  centre.  The  cover  was  slipt  aside,  and 
they  lay  beneath  my  eye.  I  had  before  stood  in  his 
pulpits ;  seen  his  books,  his  rings,  and  chairs ;  but 
never  before  had  I  looked  on  part  of  his  very  self. 
The  skull,  which  is  perfect,  clean,  and  fair,  I  received, 
as  is  the  custom,  into  my  hand.  I  could  say  nothing ; 
but  thought  and  feeling  were  busy.  On  returning  to 
the  church,  I  proposed  an  exercise  of  worship.  We 
collected  over  the  grave  of  the  eloquent,  the  devoted, 
and  seraphic  man,  and  gave  expression  to  the  senti- 
ments that  possessed  us,  by  solemn  psalmody  and  fer- 
vent prayer.  It  was  not  an  ordinary  service  to  any 
of  us." 

In  the  year  1835,  a  similar  deputation  visited  this 
country  from  the  Baptist  Union  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.  It  consisted  of  the  late  Rev.  F.  A.  Cox, 
D.  D.,  of  London,  and  the  Rev.  James  Hoby,  D.  D., 
then  of  Birmingham.  They  also  visited  the  tomb  of 
our  never-to-be-forgotten  evangelist.  We  give  a  few. 
sentences  from  their  report :  "  We  made  an  excursion 
to  Newburyport,  thirty-nine  miles  from  Boston,  to  see 
the  tomb  of  Whitefield.  On  our  arrival,  we  hastened 
to  the  depository  of  the  precious  remains  of  that  emi- 
nent servant  of  God.  .  .  We  descended  with  some 
difficulty  into  the  subterraneous  vault,  which  is  imme- 
diately behind  the  pulpit,  in  a  small  chamber  like  a 
vestry,  external  to  the  body  of  the  church.  Deep  ex- 
pectant emotions  thrilled  through  our  bosoms,  while 
a  kind  of  trap-door  was  opened,  and  we  descended 


454  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

beneath  the  floor  to  another  door,  which  stood  per- 
pendicularly, by  which  we  entered,  or  rather  crept, 
into  the  awful  and  silent  sepulchre.  There  were  three 
coffins  placed  in  parallel  lines ;  two  of  them  contain- 
ing the  mortal  part  of  Mr.  Parsons  and  Mr.  Prince, 
pastors  of  the  church.  We  instinctively  took  our 
seats,  the  one  on  the  one  coffin,  the  other  on  the  other, 
with  the  coffin  of  Whitefield  between,  over  which, 
when  the  upper  part  of  the  lid  was  removed,  to  reveal 
the  skeleton  secrets  of  the  narrow  prison-house,  we 
bent  in  solemn  stillness  and  awe.  We  gazed  on 
the  fragments — we  contemplated  and  handled  the 
skull  of  that  great  preacher  of  righteousness — we 
thought  of  his  devoted  life,  his  blessed  death,  his  high 
and  happy  destiny ;  and  whispered  our  adorations 
of  the  grace  that  formed  him  both  for  earth  and 
heaven." 

The  following  lines  were  written  by  the  departed 
and  amiable  William  B.  Tappan,  on  visiting  this  spot 
in  September,  1837. 

"And  this  was  Whitefield! — this,  the  dust  now  blending 
•?i  • '       With  kindred  dust,  that  wrapt  his  soul  of  fire — 
Which,  from  the  mantle  freed,  is  still  ascending 
Through  regions  of  far  glory,  holier,  higher. 
Oh,  as  I  gaze  here  with  a  solemn  joy 
And  awful  reverence,  in  which  shares  Decay, 
Who,  this  fair  frame  reluctant  to  destroy, 
Yields  it  not  yet  to  doom  winch  all  obey — 
How  follows  thought  his  flight,  at  Love's  command, 
From  hemisphere  in  sin,  to  hemisphere, 
Warning  uncounted  multitudes  with  tears — 
Preaching  the  risen  Christ  on  sea  and  land — 
And  now  those  angel  journeyings  above ! 
Souls,  his  companions,  saved  by  such  unwearied  love !" 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  455 

In  December,  1845,  one  of  the  London  daily  papers, 
"  The  Sun,"  contained  a  somewhat  extended  account 
of  Whitefield  in  New  England,  and  especially  his 
death,  funeral,  and  4omb,  from  which  we  borrow  me- 
mentos that  in  both  hemispheres  may  be  interesting 
"  for  generations  to  come." 

"  I  was  spending  Sunday  at  Old  Ipswich,  in  the 
latter  part  of  last  September,  when  by  accident  I  fell 
in  with  an  old  inhabitant  of  the  town  who  had  heard 
Whitefield  preach  there.  He  was  a  sort  of  patriarch 
of  the  place,  and  as  he  sat  on  one  of  the  stones  which 
surrounded  the  ancient  orthodox  meeting-house,  his 
grey  locks  streaming  from  beneath  his  queerly  shaped 
hat,  and  attired  in  his  primly  cut  old-fashioned  coat, 
he  appeared  no  bad  representative  of  the  departed 
Puritans  who,  in  former  days,  had  soberly  and  decently 
obeyed  the  call  of  the  Sabbath  bell,  and  worshipped  in 
the  same  temple  whose  steeple  now  casts  its  shadow 
athwart  the  green  sward  beneath.  .  .  As  the  bell  of 
Old  Ipswich  church  swung  out  that  bright  Sabbath 
morning,  it  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  the  village  peo- 
ple coming  from  different  points  to  the  decaying  old 
church,  which  was  situated,  as  most  country  churches 
in  New  England  are,  on  a  hill-top.  While  I  was  en- 
joying the  scene,  the  old  man  to  whom  I  have  alluded, 
and  who  was  sitting  on  a  stone,  accosted  me,  and 
asked  me  if  I  was  not  a  stranger  '  in  these  parts.'  On 
my  informing  him  that  I  was,  he  pointed  out  to  me  the 
'  lions '  of  the  neighborhood,  and  wound  up  by  asking, 
'  I  suppose,  sir,  you  've  heard  of  Whitefield?' 

" '  Of  Whitefield  ?  to  be  sure  I  have.' 

" '  Well,  I  've    seen  Whitefield.     George  White- 


456  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

field  stood  on  this  very  stone/  (dropping  Ms  stick 
feebly  from  his  shaking  hands,)  '  and  I  heard  him 
preach  here.' 

" '  And  do  you  remember  any  thing  about  him  ?'  I 
asked. 

" '  Well,  I  guess  I  do.  I  was  but  a  bit  of  a  boy 
then  ;  but  here  he  stood  on  this  stone,  looking  like  a 
flying  angel,  and  we  call  this  Whitefield's  pulpit  to 
this  day.  .  .  There  was  folks  here  from  all  parts 
to  hear  him ;  so  he  was  obliged  to  preach  outside,  for 
the  church  was  n't  half  big  enough  for  'em,  and  no 
two  ways  about  it.  I  've  heard  many  parsons  sin' 
that  time,  but  none  on  'em  could  come  nigh  him,  any 
how  they  could  fix  it.7 

" '  Do  you  remember  any  thing  of  his  sermons  ?' 
I  inquired. 

" '  Oh,  I  was  too  young  to  notice  aught,  sir,  but  the 
preacher  hisself  and  the  crowds  of  people,  but  I  know 
he  had  a  very  sweet  voice  ;  and  as  I  said,  when  he 
spread  his  arms  out,  with  a  little  Bible  in  his  hand, 
he  looked  like  a  flying  angel.  There  never  were  so 
many  people,  afore  nor  since,  in  Old  Ipswich.  I  sup- 
pose, sir,  you '11 -be  going  to  see  his  bones?  He  was 
buried  at  Newburyport,  and  you  can  see  'em  if  you 
like.' 

"I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  see  them,  if 
possible.  On  the  following  day,  I  went  over  to  New- 
buryport by  railroad,  and  proceeded  first  to  the  house 
in  which  Whitefield  died.  It  was  at  the  time  the 
residence  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons,  the  first  reg- 
ular pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Society  in  the  town. 
It  is  a  plain  unpretending  structure,  possessing  no 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  45T 

other  claims  to  attention  than  its  being  the  spot  where 
the  last  scene  of  Whitefield's  career  was  enacted.  I 
knocked,  and  asked  of  a  lady  who  answered  my  sum- 
mons, if  I  might  be  allowed  to  see  the  room  in  which 
Mr.  Whitefield  died.  She  very  courteously  showed 
me  up  a  flight  of  stairs  into  a  chamber,  which,  she 
said,  Mr.  Whitefield  used  to  sleep  in.  '  Here  is  the 
place  he  died  in/  said  the  lady,  as  she  showed  me  a 
little  entry  just  outside  the  door  of  the  chamber,  di- 
rectly over  the  entrance  to  the  house.  '  He  lay  the 
night  before  he  died,'  said  the  lady, '  in  that  bed-cham- 
ber ;  and  when  he  was  struck  with  death,  he  ran  out 
to  this  entry  window  for  breath,  and  died  while  sitting 
in  a  chair  opposite  to  it/ 

"  The  Federal-street  church,  where  Whitefield  was 
buried,  was  but  a  short  distance  from  the  house  in 
which  he  died,  and  on  my  way  to  it  I  called  on  the 
sexton.  .  .  He  preceded  me  through  the  aisle  of  the 
church,  and  opening  a  little  narrow  door  by  the  side 
of  the  pulpit,  we  passed  into  a  dim  gloomy  room 
behind  it,  and  from  thence  descending  four  or  five 
steps,  found  ourselves  in  a  brick  vault  which  lay  di- 
rectly under  the  pulpit.  It  was  two  or  three  minutes 
before  my  eyes  got  accustomed  to  the  gloom;  but 
soon  objects  became  discernible,  and  I  saw  three  old 
coffins,  two  of  them  serving  as  supporters  to  the  third, 
which  lay  across  them.  .  .  .  The  sexton  trimmed  his 
lamp,  then  lifted  the  lid  of  an  old  coffin,  and  holding 
the  flame  close  to  it,  said,  '  Here,  look  in,  ...  THAT  's 

THE  MAN.' 

"  Yes,  there  lay  the  man,  or  at  least,  all  that  re- 
mains of  the  once  mighty  preacher.  A  strange  awe 

WhitefUld  20 


458  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

came  over  me  at  his  words,  '  That 's  the  man."1  I  took 
the  skull  in  my  hands,  and  examined  it  carefully.  The 
forehead  was  rather  narrow  than  broad,  and  by  no 
means  high.  I  soon  put  it  back  again  to  the  coffin." 

Among  the  more  prominent  traits  in  the  character 
of  Whitefield,  we  may  designate  his  indifference  to  his 
own  honor  and  ease,  of  which  his  narrative  contains 
almost  innumerable  illustrations.  In  the  preparation 
of  the  deed  of  trust  for  his  intended  college,  he  en- 
tirely omitted  his  own  name,  that  the  proposed  trus- 
tees might  accept  the  office  without  suffering  contempt 
for  being  connected  with  him.  It  was  not  pretence 
which  led  him  often  to  say,  "  Let  the  name  of  George 
Whitefield  perish,  if  God  be  glorified."  On  the  same 
principle  of  almost  self-annihilation  he  acted  in  refer- 
ence to  the  accumulation  of  money.  He  secured  noth- 
ing for  himself.  It  does  not  seem  that  what  he  left 
to  his  friends  by  his  will  was  or  could  be  paid ;  what 
had  been  left  him  as  legacies  had  been  nearly  all 
expended,  and  would  have  been  entirely,  had  he  lived 
to  return  to  his  beloved  Bethesda.  By  his  will  he 
placed  the  institution  in  the  hands  of  Lady  Hunting- 
don, who  sent  out  ministers  and  other  persons  to  con- 
duct it.  But  soon  after  this,  the  buildings  were  burnt 
down.  After  the  fire,  came  the  Revolutionary  war, 
which  tended  to  unsettle  the  tenure  of  property,  and 
at  the  time  of  its  close,  the  whole  plans,  alike  of  the 
orphan-house  and  the  college,  were  nearly  unknown. 
The  authorities  of  Savannah,  in  accordance  with  the 
high  regard  which  they  still  entertained  for  White- 
field's  memory,  secured  whatever  they  could  of  the 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  459 

wreck,  the  proceeds  of  which  they  invested  in  a  school 
for  the  young,  which  yet  flourishes. 

Perhaps  no  man  was  ever  more  thoroughly  fond  of 
labor.  Prom  a  memorandum  in  which  Mr.  Whitefield 
recorded  the  times  and  places  of  his  ministerial  labors, 
it  appears  that  from  the  period  of  his  ordination  to 
that  of  his  death,  which  was  thirty-four  years,  he 
preached  upwards  of  eighteen  thousand  sermons.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  imagine  how  many  thousand 
miles  he  travelled.  When  he  ascertained  that  his 
physical  powers  began  to  fail,  putting  himself  on  what 
he  called  "  short  allowance,"  he  preached  only  once  on 
every  week-day,  and  three  times  on  the  Sabbath.  In  view 
of  his  various  journeyings  in  the  slow  and  inconven- 
ient modes -of  travelling  then  in  use,  his  thirteen  voy- 
ages across  the  Atlantic,  and  all  that  he  accomplished, 
it  appears  that  few  men  ever  performed  so  much  labor 
within  the  same  period. 

Nearly  every  one  who  has  attempted  a  description 
of  Whitefield  has  said  much  of  his  extraordinary  voice. 
It  is  known  that  Garrick  was  heard  to  say  that  he 
would  give  a  hundred  guineas  if  he  could  say  "Oh!" 
as  Whitefield  did.  The  late  Eev.  Dr.  Haweis,  speak- 
ing of  his  "  wonderful  voice,"  and  of  its  sweetness  and 
variety  of  tone,  said  he  believed  on  a  serene  evening 
it  might  be  distinctly  heard  for  nearly  a  mile.  Others 
have  given  similar  evidence. 

The  late  Sir  George  Beaumont,  no  mean  authority 
on  such  a  subject,  thus  familiarly  speaks :  "  Oh  yes ;  I 
heard  that  young  gentleman  this  morning  allude  to 
'  roaring  Whitefield/  and  was  amused  at  his  mistake. 
It  is  a  common  one.  Whitefield  did  not  roar.  I 


460  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

have  been  his  auditor  more  than  once,  and  was  de- 
lighted with  him.  Whitefield's  voice  could  be  heard 
at  an  immense  distance;  but  that  was  owing  to  its 
fulness,  roundness,  and  clearness.  It  was  a  perfectly 
sound  voice.  It  is  an  odd  description,  but  I  can  hit 
upon  no  better;  there  was  neither  crack  nor  flaw. 
To  describe  him  as  a  bellowing,  roaring  field  preach- 
er^is  to  describe  a  mountebank,  not  Whitefield.  He 
had  powers  of  pathos  of  the  highest  order.  The  ten- 
der, soft,  persuasive  tones  of  his  voice  were  melodious 
in  the  extreme.  And  when  he  desired  to  win,  or  per- 
suade, or  plead,  or  soothe,  the  gush  of  feeling  which 
his  voice  conveyed  at  once  surprised  and  overpowered 
you." 

Speaking  on  the  authority  of  his  tutor,  the  Rev. 
Cornelius  Winter,  the  late  excellent  Mr.  Jay  says  that 
"Whitefield's  voice  was  incomparable :  not  only  distinct 
and  loud,  but  abounding  with  every  kind  of  inflection, 
and  perfectly  under  his  power ;  so  that  he  could  render 
every  thing  he  expressed,  however  common  or  insig- 
nificant in  itself,  striking  and  affecting. 

This  distinguished  man  had  a  peculiar  talent  for 
making  the  narration  of  facts  tell  in  the  pulpit.  Nothing 
occurred  among  even  his  own  family  connections,  but 
he  would  make  it  contribute  to  the  edification  of  his 
auditors.  One  Lord's  day  morning,  with  his  usual 
fervor  he  exhorted  his  hearers  to  give  up  the  use  of 
means  for  the  spiritual  good  of  their  relatives  and 
friends  only  with  their  lives.  He  told  them  he  had  a 
brother,  for  whose  spiritual  welfare  he  had  very  long 
used  every  possible  means.  He  had  warned  him,  and 
prayed  for  him,  but  all  apparently  to  no  purpose,  till 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  461 

a  few  weeks  previous;  when  that  brother,  to  his  as- 
tonishment and  joy,  came  to  his  house,  and  with  many 
tears  declared  that  he  had  come  up  from  the  country 
to  testify  to  him  the  great  change  which  divine  grace 
had  wrought  in  his  heart,  and  to  acknowledge  with 
gratitude  his  obligation  to  the  man  by  whom  God  had 
wrought.  Mr.  Whitefield  added,  that  he  had  that 
morning  received  information,  that  on  his  brother's 
return  to  Gloucestershire,  where  he  resided,  he  drop- 
ped down  dead  as  he  was  getting  out  of  a  stage- 
coach. "Let  us  pray  always,"  said  he,  "for  our- 
selves, and  for  those  who  are  dear  to  us,  and  never 
faint." 

This  habit  of  making  every  occurrence  bear  on  his 
ministry,  Mr.  Winter,  who  knew  him  more  intimately, 
and  has  told  us  more  of  his  private  life  and  conduct 
than  any  other  man,  tells  us  was  "perfectly  in  charac- 
ter with  Mr.  Whitefield.  He  turned  every  thing  into 
gold ;  he  improved  every  thing  for  good.  Passing 
occurrences  determined  the  matter  of  his  sermons, 
and,  in  some  degree,  the  manner  of  his  address.  Thus, 
if  he  had  read  on  astronomy  in  the  course  of  the  week, 
you  would  be  sure  to  discover  it.  He  knew  how  to 
convert  the  centripetal  motion  of  the  planets  to  the 
disposition  of  the  Christian  towards  Christ ;  and  the 
fatal  attraction  of  the  world  was  very  properly  repre- 
sented by  a  reference  to  the  centrifugal.  If  he  attend- 
ed any  extraordinary  trial,  he  would  avail  himself  of 
the  formality  of  the  judge  in  pronouncing  sentence. 
It  would  only  be  by  hearing  him,  and  by  beholding 
his  attitude  and  tears,  that  a  person  could  well  con- 
ceive the  effect ;  for  it  was  impossible  but  that  solem- 


462  .  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

nity  must  surround  him  who,  under  God,  became  the 
means  of  making  all  solemn." 

He  sometimes  made  use  of  an  incident  of  history 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  The  apprentices  of  Lon- 
don appeared  before  that  monarch,  pleading  his  par- 
don for  their  insurrections,  manifesting  intense  feeling 
on  the  matter,  and  praying  for  "mercy,  mercy."  "Take 
them  away,  take  them  away,"  was  the  monarch's  re- 
quest, moved  by  the  sight  and  the  cries  of  these  youths, 
"I  cannot  bear  it."  The  application,  as  will  be  read- 
ily supposed,  was,  that  if  an  earthly  monarch  of  Hen- 
ry's character  could  be  so  moved,  how  prevalent  must 
be  the  plea  of  the  sinner  in  the  ears  of  infinite  Love. 

The  case  of  two  Scotchmen  in  the  convulsion  of  the 
state  at  the  time  of  Charles  II.  served  him  on  more 
than  one  occasion.  These  men,  having  to  pass  some 
of  the  troops,  were  thinking  of  their  danger,  and  med- 
itating the  best  way  of  escape,  when  one  of  them  pro- 
posed wearing  a  skullcap;  but  the  other,  thinking 
that  would  imply  distrust  of  the  providence  of  God, 
determined  to  proceed  bareheaded.  The  last  was 
the  first  laid  hold  of,  and  being  asked,  "  Are  you  for 
the  covenant?"  replied,  "Yes;"  and  being  further 
asked,  "  What  covenant  ?"  answered,  ">The  covenant 
of  grace  ;"  by  which  reply,  eluding  farther  inquiry,  he 
was  allowed  to  pass;  but  the  other,  not  answering 
satisfactorily,  received  a  blow  from  the  sabre,  which 
penetrating  through  the  cap,  struck  him  dead.  In  the 
application,  Mr.  Whitefield,  warning  against  vain 
confidence,  exclaimed,  "  Beware  of  your  skullcaps." 

An  American  clergyman  has  told  us  that  he  once 
related  to  Whitefield  an  affecting  occurrence,  but  did 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  463 

it  with  the  ordinary  brevity  and  feeling  of  common 
conversation.  Afterwards  he  heard  Mr.  Whitefield 
preach,  and  tell  this  same  story  with  such  nature, 
pathos,  and  power,  that  the  clergyman  found  himself 
weeping  like  a  child.  It  has  been  well  said,  that  he 
spoke  with  the  tones  of  the  soul ;  and  that  his  gestures 
were  impelled  by  the  same  spontaneous  magical  influ- 
ence which  made  them,  as  well  as  his  words,  seem  part 
of  his  soul.  Indeed,  he  threw  his  soul  into  every 
thing  he  did  and  said. 

It  is  said  that  Whitefield  would  sometimes  rise  in 
the  sacred  desk,  and  for  a  minute  or  two  looking  in 
silence  around  his  vast  audience,  as  if  salvation  or 
perdition  teemed  in  every  cast  of  his  eye,  would  burst 
into  tears,  while  the  swift  contagion,  before  he  uttered 
a  word,  had  reached  every  heart  that  could  feel,  and 
dimmed  every  eye  that  could  weep.* 

While  his  path  to  the  sinner's  heart  was  thus  met 
with  tears,  he  was  never  without  strength  or  aim. 
He  struck  everywhere.  He  swung  his  glittering 
weapon,  "  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,"  in  every  direction, 
the  same  whether  he  preached  in  the  cushioned  and 
carpeted  pulpit  to  lords,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  or  en- 
countered a  mob  of  stage-players  and  merry-andrews 
in  the  open  field.  He  insisted  on  instant,  visible, 
decisive  action  in  his  hearers.  All  was  commotion 
where  he  moved.  The  very  earth  would  seem  to  be 
shaken  with  the  thunder  of  his  eloquence ;  the  heav- 

*  The  New  York  Evangelist,  in  1830,  made  the  remark,  that 
"  Whitefield  would  have  lost  much  of  his  oratorical  influence  on  his 
hearers,  had  his  speaking  eyes  been  covered  with  a  pair  of  modern 


464  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ens  seemed,  in  the  bold  metaphor  of  Isaiah,  to  "  drop 
down  from  above,  and  the  skies  to  pour  down  right- 
eousness," when  he  set  the  trumpet  of  the  gospel  to 
his  lips,  and  made  the  notes  of  salvation  or  perdition 
ring  in  the  ears  of  dying  men.  Such  unwonted  sounds 
startled  the  multitude  into  life,  rousing  energies  that 
were  forthwith  enlisted  either  for  or  against  the 
mighty  cause  which  he  advocated}  with  the  boldness 
and  fervor  of  one  who  had  received  immediate  com- 
mission from  heaven.  His  sacred  ambition  was  con- 
tent with  nothing  short  of  the  conquest  of  thousands. 

It  has  been  well  said  by  a  living  American  writer, 
that  "  Whitefield  was,  in  sacred  eloquence,  what  Han- 
del was  in  sacred  music.  There  was  an  air,  a  soul, 
and  a  movement  in  his  oratory,  which  created  inde- 
scribable emotion  in  his  vast  assemblies,  and  if  Han- 
del, with  a  thousand  auxiliary  voices  and  instruments, 
astonished  the  multitude  in  Westminster  Abbey,  even 
to  raising  them  on  their  feet,  by  the  performance  of 
his  Messiah,  Whitefield  did  greater  wonders  in  his 
single  person  by  preaching  the  Messiah  to  the  immense 
crowds  in  Tottenham  Court-road  and  Moorfields." 

The  same  writer  has  said  elsewhere,  "The  influ- 
ence of  Whitefield  and  Edwards  on  theology  and  pul- 
pit  eloquence  were  immense.  There  was  in  those 
two  men  indeed  'a  diversity  of  gifts,  but  the  same 
spirit.'  The  intellect  prevailed  in  Edwards,  the  im- 
passioned in  Whitefield.  Pure  truth  came  forth  from 
the  mind  of  the  one  as  nakedly  demonstrated  as  it 
ever  was  on  the  pages  of  Newton  and  Locke ;  for  Ed- 
wards, when  but  a  child,  read  Locke  with  enthusiasm. 
From  the  soul  of  Whitefield  it  came  forth  arrayed  in 


>*  •  m 

TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  465 

the  gorgeous  robes  of  his  own  many-colored  imagina- 
tion, baptized  in  the  tenderness  of  his  own  sympa- 
thetic spirit.  At  times,  indeed,  the  thunders  of  Sinai 
seemed  to  shake  the  sacred  desk,  but  the  softer  music 
of  the  harp  of  Zion  was  more  congenial  with  his  com- 
passionate spirit,  though  he  was  always  bold  for  God, 
and  braved  danger  in  every  form  for  the  salvation  of 
sinners.  It  is  not  strange  that  American  preachers 
venerate,  even  to  enthusiasm,  the  memory  of  such  a 
man,  and  visit  his  dust,  enshrined  as  it  is  in  the  bosom 
of  New  England,  with  feelings  of  indescribable  inter- 
est. His  labors  were  for  us ;  his  rest  is  with  us  ;  his 
example  is  before  us.  The  first  were  indefatigable  ; 
the  second  is  peaceful ;  the  last  is  glorious." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Winter  says,  "  I  hardly  ever  knew 
him  to  go  through  a  sermon  without  weeping  more  or. 
less ;"  and  again,  "  It  was  only  by  beholding  his  atti- 
tude and  tears,  that  one  could  well  conceive  of  the 
effect."  No  doubt  there  was  a  connection  between 
the  tears  of  Whitefield  and  his  piety ;  but  it  must  not 
be  supposed  that  he  was  always  "the  weeping  proph- 
et;" he  could  smile  as  well  as  weep.  A  venerable 
lady  in  New  York,  known  to  some  yet  living,  speak- 
ing of  the  influence  which  first  won  her  heart  to  God, 
said  that  "Mr.  Whitefield  was  so  cheerful  that  it 
tempted  her  to  be  a  Christian." 

Every  thing  about  this  distinguished  man  excited 
attention.  His  voice,  accompanied  by  his  look  from 
crossed  eyes,  and  proceeding  from  a  man  of  his  robust 
frame,  produced  wonderful  effects.  It  is  said  that 
when  once  preaching  in  a  graveyard,  two  young  men 
conducted  themselves  improperly,  when  he  fixed  his 
20* 


466  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

eyes  upon  them,  and  with  a  voice  resembling  thunder, 
said,  "  Come  down,  ye  rebels."  They  instantly  fell, 
neither  of  them  being  inclined  again  to  come  into 
contact  with  such  a  look,  or  to  hear  such  a  voice. 

He  was  once  preaching  to  a  vast  crowd  of  people 
in  southern  Pennsylvania,  which  was  at  that  time,, 
ignorant  and  uncivilized.  He  was  incessantly  dis- 
turbed by  their  noise,  and  twice  reproved  them  with 
great  severity.  At  length  he  was  so  overcome  by 
their  noisy  and  irreverent  conduct,  that  he  stopped 
short,  dropped  his  head  into  his  hands,  burst  into  a 
flood  of  tears,  and  exclaimed,  "Oh,  Lord  God,  I  am 
ashamed  that  these  people  are  provoking  thy  wrath, 
and  I  dare  not  reprove  them  a  third  time."  Such  was 
the  effect  of  his  conduct  and  feeling,  that  his  audience 
became  perfectly  quiet,  and  remained  so  till  the  end 
of  his  discourse. 

We  have  before  us  two  narratives  of  his  preaching 
during  very  heavy  storms.  Dr.  Campbell,  a  successor 
of  Whitefield  in  the  Tabernack  in  London,  and  whose 
ministry  has  been  marked  by  much  of  the  power  and 
success  of  his  great  predecessor,  has  given  to  the  first 
of  these  narratives  the  title  of  "Thunder  and  Elo- 
quence" Before  he  commenced  his  sermon  on  this  oc- 
casion, long  darkening  columns  crowded  the  bright 
sunny  sky  of  the  morning,  and  swept  their  dull  shad- 
ows over  the  building,  in  fearful  augury  of  the  storm. 

His  text  was,  "Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait 
gate;  for  many,  I  say  unto  you,  shall  seek  to  enter 
in,  and  shall  not  be  able."  "  See,"  said  he,  pointing 
to  a  shadow  that  was  flitting  across  the  floor — "  see 
that  emblem  of  human  life.  It  passed  for  a  moment, 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  467 

and  concealed  the  brightness  of  heaven  from  our  view  ; 
but  it  is  gone.  And  where  will  ye  be,  my  hearers, 
when  your  lives  have  passed  away  like  that  dark 
cloud  ?  Oh,  my  dear  friends,  I  see  thousands  sitting 
attentively,  with  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  poor  unwor- 
thy preacher.  In  a  few  days,  we  shall  all  meet  at 
the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  We  shall  form  a  part 
of  that  vast  assembly  that  will  gather  before  the 
throne ;  and  every  eye  will  Toehold  the  Judge.  With 
a  voice  whose  call  you  must  abide  and  answer,  he 
will  inquire  whether  on  earth  you  strove  to  enter  in 
at  the  strait  gate ;  whether  you  were  supremely  de- 
voted to  God  ;  whether  your  hearts  were  absorbed  in 
him.  My  blood  runs  cold  when  I  think  how  many  of 
you  will  then  seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not  be  able. 
Oh,  what  plea  can  you  make  before  the  Judge  of  the 
whole  earth?  Can  you  say  it  has  been  your  whole 
endeavor  to  mortify  the  flesh,  with  its  affections  and 
lusts — that  your  life  has  been  one  long  effort  to  do 
the  will  of  God  ?  No ;  you  must  answer,  '  I  made 
myself  easy  in  the  world  by  flattering  myself  that 
all  would  end  well;  but  I  have  deceived  my  own 
soul,  and  am  lost.' 

"  You,  O  false  and  hollow  Christian,  of  what  avail 
will  it  be  that  you  have  done  many  things — that  you 
have  read  much  in  the  sacred  word — that  you  have 
made  long  prayers — that  you  have  attended  religious 
duties,  and  that  you  have  appeared  holy  in  the  eyes 
of  men  ?  What  will  all  this  be,  if,  instead  of  loving 
Him  supremely,  you  have  been  supposing  you  should 
exalt  yourself  in  heaven  by  acts  really  polluted  and 
unholy  ? 


468  '  GEOKGE  WHITEFIELD. 

"  And  you,  rich  men,  wherefore  do  you  hoard  your 
silver  ?  Wherefore  count  the  price  you  have  received 
for  Him  whom  you  every  day  crucify  in  your  love  of 
gain  ?  Why — that  when  you  are  too  poor  to  buy  a 
drop  of  cold  water,  your  beloved  son  may  be  rolled 
to  hell  in  his  chariot,  pillowed  and  cushioned  around 
him." 

The  eye  of  the  preacher  gradually  lighted  up  as 
he  proceeded,  till  towards  the  close  it  seemed  to  spar- 
kle with  celestial  fire.  With  his  whole  energy  he 
exclaimed,  "  0  sinners,  by  all  your  hopes  of  happiness, 
I  beseech  you  to  repent.  Let  not  the  wrath  of  God 
be  awakened.  Let  not  the  fires  of  eternity  be  kindled 
against  you.  See  there !"  pointing  to  the  lightning, 
which  played  on  the  corner  of  the  pulpit,  "  it  is  a 
glance  from  the  angry  eye  of  Jehovah !"  Raising  his 
finger  in  a  listening  attitude,  as  the  distant  thunder 
grew  louder  and  louder,  and  broke  in  one  tremendous 
crash  over  the  building,  he  continued,  "  Hark  !  It  was 
the  voice  of  the  Almighty  as  he  passed  by  in  his  an- 
ger I"  As  the  sound  died  away,  he  covered  his  face 
with  his  hands,  and  knelt  beside  his  pulpit,  apparently 
lost  in  inward  and  intense  prayer.  The  storm  passed 
rapidly  away,  and  the  sun,  beaming  forth  in  his  might, 
threw  across  the  heavens  a  magnificent  arch  of  peace. 
Rising,  and  pointing  to  the  beautiful  object,  he  ex- 
claimed, "  Look  upon  the  rainbow,  and  praise  Him 
who  made  it.  Very  beautiful  it  is  in  the  brightness 
thereof.  It  compasseth  the  heavens  about  with  glory ; 
and  the  hands  of  the  Most  High  have  bended  it !" 

On  another  occasion,  as  Mr.  Whitefield  was 
preaching  in  Boston,  on  the  wonders  of  creation, 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  469 

providence,  and  redemption,  a  violent  storm  of  thun- 
der and  lightning  came  on.  In  the  midst  of  the  ser- 
mon it  attained  to  so  alarming  a  height  that  the  con- 
gregation sat  in  almost  breathless  awe.  The  preacher 
closed  his  note-book,  and  stepping  into  one  of  the 
wings  of  the  desk,  fell  on  his  knees,  and  with  much 
feeling  and  fine  taste  repeated  : 

"Hark,  THE  ETERNAL  rends  the  sky! 
A  mighty  voice  before  him  goes — 
A  voice  of  music  to  his  friends, 
But  threatening  thunder  to  his  foes : 
'Come,  children,  to  your  Father's  arms; 
Hide  in  the  chambers  of  my  grace, 
Till  the  fierce  storm  be  overblown, 
And  my  revenging  fury  cease — ' 

"  Let  us  devoutly  sing  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God 
this  hymn,  Old  Hundred." 

The  whole  congregation  instantly  rose,  and  poured 
forth  the  sacred  song,  in  which  they  were  accompa- 
nied by  the  organ,  in  a  style  of  simple  grandeur  and 
heartfelt  devotion  that  was  probably  never  surpassed. 
By  the  time  the  hymn  was  finished  the  storm  was 
hushed.  The  remainder  of  the  services  were  well 
adapted  to  sustain  the  elevated  feeling  which  had 
been  produced  ;  and  the  benediction  with  which  the 
good  man  dismissed  the  flock  was  universally  received 
with  streaming  eyes,  and  hearts  overflowing  with  ten- 
derness and  gratitude. 

Another  writer  has  thus  described  his  appearance 
in  the  pulpit.  There  was  nothing  in  the  appearance 
of  this  extraordinary  man  which  would  lead  you  to 
suppose  that  a  Felix  would  tremble  before  him.  He 
was  something  above  the  middle  stature,  well  propor- 


470  GEOEGE  WHITEFIELD. 

tioned,  and  remarkable  for  a  native  gracefulness  of 
manner.  His  complexion  was  very  fair,  his  features 
regular,  and  his  dark  blue  eyes  small  and  lively.  In 
recovering  from  the  measles  he  had  contracted  a 
squint  with  one  of  them ;  but  this  peculiarity  rather 
rendered  the  expression  of  his  countenance  more  re- 
markable, than  in  any  degree  lessened  the  effect  of  its 
uncommon  sweetness.  His  voice  excelled  both  in 
melody  and  compass ;  and  its  fine  modulations  were 
happily  accompanied  by  that  grace  of  action  which 
he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  which  has 
been  said  to  be  the  chief  requisite  in  an  orator.  To 
see  him  when  he  first  commenced,  one  would  have 
thought  him  any  thing  but  enthusiastic  and  glowing  ; 
but  as  he  proceeded,  his  heart  warmed  with  his  sub- 
ject, and  his  manner  became  impetuous  and  animated  ; 
till,  forgetful  of  every  thing  around  him,  he  seemed  to 
kneel  at  the  throne  of  Jehovah,  and  to  beseech  in 
agony  for  his  fellow-beings. 

After  he  had  finished  his  prayer,  he  knelt  for  a 
long  time  in  profound  silence,  and  so  powerful  was 
the  effect  on  the  most  heartless  of  his  audience,  that  a 
stillness  like  that  of  the  tomb  pervaded  the  whole 
house. 

Mr.  Tracy,  in  his  narrative  of  "  the  Great  Awak- 
ening" about  1740,  has  admirably  remarked,  "It  is 
often  said  that  Whitefield  cannot  have  been  a  very 
great  man,  because  his  printed  sermons  contain  only 
plain,  common  thoughts,  such  as  men  of  ordinary 
minds  habitually  use.  But  what  made  those  thoughts 
so  common  ?  They  were  not  common  when  he  began 
to  utter  them.  In  England  especially,  and  to  a  con- 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  4fl 

siderable  extent  here  also,  they  astonished  his  hearers 
by  their  strangeness.  What  is  more  common  than  a 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic?  But  was  Columbus, 
therefore,  only  an  ordinary  man?  The  case  of  Co- 
pernicus is  more  nearly  parallel.  He  reasserted  a 
truth  which  had  been  uttered,  repudiated,  and  for- 
gotten. That  truth  is  now  common,  even  among 
school-boys.  But  was  he,  therefore,  only  a  child  in 
intellect  ?" 

There  are  yet  extant  about  eighty  of  the  sermons 
by  which  Whitefield  agitated  nations,  and  the  more 
remote  influence  of  which  is  still  distinctly  to  be 
traced,  in  the  popular  divinity  and  national  character 
of  Great  Britain  and  of  the  United  States.  Of  these 
compositions,  Sir  James  Stephen,  an  evangelical  Epis- 
copalian of  London,  wrote  at  some  length  in  the 
"  Edinburgh  Review,"  1838,  and  we  shall  make  no 
apology  for  borrowing  a  portion  of  his  remarks,  com- 
bining them  with  some  of  our  own. 

It  is  true,  that  these  sermons  have  fallen  into  very 
general  neglect;  for  to  win  permanent  acceptance 
for  a  book,  into  which  the  principles  of  life  were  not 
infused  by  its  author,  is  a  miracle  which  not  even  the 
zeal  of  religious  proselytes  can  accomplish.  Yet,  in- 
ferior as  were  his  inventive  to  his  mimetic  powers, 
Whitefield  is  entitled,  among  theological  writers,  to 
a  place  which,  if  it  cannot  challenge  admiration,  may 
at  least  excite  and  reward  curiosity.  Many,  and  those 
by  far  tlie  worst  of  his  discourses,  bear  the  marks  of 
careful  preparation.  Take  at  hazard  a  sermon  of  one 
of  the  preachers  usually  distinguished  as  evangelical, 
add  a  little  to  its  length,  and  subtract  a  great  deal 


412  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

from  its  point  and  polish,  and  you  have  one  of  his 
more  elaborate  common  topics  discussed  in  a  common- 
place way;  a  respectable  mediocrity  of  thought  and 
style ;  endless  variations  on  one  or  two  cardinal 
truths — in  short,  the  task  of  a  clerical  Saturday  even- 
ing, executed  with  piety,  good  sense,  and  exceeding 
sedateness.  But  open  one  of  that  series  of  White- 
field's  sermons  which  bears  the  stamp  of  having  been 
conceived  and  uttered  at  the  same  moment,  and  imag- 
ine it  recited  to  myriads  of  eager  listeners  with  every 
charm  of  voice  and  gesture,  and  the  secret  of  his 
unrivalled  fascination  is  at  least  partially  disclosed. 
He  places  himself  on  terms  of  intimacy  and  unre- 
served confidence  with  you,  and  makes  it  almost  as 
difficult  to  decline  the  invitation  to  his  familiar  talk 
as  if  Montaigne  himself  had  issued  it.  The  egotism 
is  amusing,  affectionate,  and  warm-hearted,  with  just 
that  slight  infusion  of  self-importance  without  which 
it  would  pass  for  affectation.  In  his  art  of  rhetoric, 
personification  holds  the  first  place ;  and  the  prosopo- 
poeia is  so  managed  as  to  quicken  abstractions  into 
life,  and  to  give  them  individuality  and  distinctness 
without  the  exhibition  of  any  of  those  spasmodic  and 
distorted  images  which  obey  the  incantations  of  vul- 
gar exorcists.  Every  trace  of  study  and  contrivance 
is  obliterated  by  the  hearty  earnestness  which  per- 
vades each  successive  period,  and  by  the  vernacular 
and  homely  idioms  in  which  his  meaning  is  conveyed. 
It  is  in  the  grandeur  and  singleness  of  purpose 
that  the  charm  of  Whitefield's  preaching  seems  to 
have  consisted.  You  feel  that  you  have  to  do  with 
a  man  who  lived  and  spoke,  and  who  would  gladly 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  473 

have  died,  to  deter  his  hearers  from  the  path  of  destruc- 
tion, and  to  guide  them  to  holiness  and  peace.  His 
gossipping  stories,  and  dramatic  forms  of  speech,  are 
never  employed  to  hide  the  awful  realities  on  which 
he  is  intent.  Conscience  is  not  permitted  to  find  an 
intoxicating  draught  in  even  spiritual  excitement,  or 
an  anodyne  in  glowing  imagery.  Guilt  and  its  pun- 
ishment, pardon  and  spotless  purity,  death  and  an 
eternal  existence,  stand  out  in  bold  relief  on  every 
page.  From  these  the  eye  of  the  teacher  is  never 
withdrawn,  and  to  these  the  attention  of  the  hearer  is 
riveted.  All  that  is  poetic,  grotesque,  or  rapturous 
is  employed  to  deepen  these  impressions,  and  is  dis- 
missed as  soon  as  that  purpose  is  answered.  Deficient 
in  learning,  meagre  in  thought,  and  redundant  in  lan- 
guage as  are  these  discourses,  they  yet  fulfil  the  one 
great  condition  of  genuine  eloquence.  They  propa- 
gate their  own  kindly  warmth,  and  leave  their  stings 
behind  them. 

The  enumeration  of  the  sources  of  Whitefield's  pow- 
er is  still  essentially  defective.  Neither  energy,  nor 
eloquence,  nor  histrionic  talents,  nor  any  artifices  of 
style,  nor  the  most  genuine  sincerity  and  self-devoted- 
ness,  nor  all  these  united,  would  have  enabled  him  to 
mould  the  religious  character  of  millions  in  his  own 
and  future  generations.  The  secret  lies  deeper.  It 
consisted  in  the  theology  he  taught — in  its  perfect 
simplicity  and  universal  application.  "  Would  minis- 
ters," says  he,  "preach  for  eternity,  they  would  then 
act  the  part  of  true  Christian  orators  ;  and  not  only 
calmly  and  coolly  inform  the  understanding,  but  by 
pathetic  and  persuasive  address,  endeavor  to  move 


474  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

the  affections  and  to  warm  the  heart.  To  act  other- 
wise, betrays  a  sad  ignorance  of  human  nature,  and 
such  an  inexcusable  ignorance  and  indifference  in  a 
preacher,  as  must  constrain  the  hearers  to  suspect, 
whether  they  will  or  not,  that  the  preacher,  let  him 
be  whom  he  will,  only  deals  in  the  false  commerce  of 
uufelt  truth."  His  eighteen  thousand  sermons  were 
but  so  many  variations  on  two  key-notes:  man  is 
guilty,  but  may  obtain  forgiveness;  he  is  immortal, 
and  must  ripen  here  for  endless  weal  or  woe  hereafter. 
Expanded  into  innumerable  forms,  and  diversified  by 
infinite  varieties  of  illustration,  these  two  cardinal 
principles  were  ever  in  his  heart  and  on  his  tongue. 
Let  who  would  invoke  poetry  to  embellish  the  Chris- 
tian system,  or  philosophy  to  explore  its  esoteric 
depths,  from  his  lips  it  was  delivered  as  an  awful  and 
urgent  summons  to  repent,  to  believe,  and  to  obey. 
To  set  to  music  the  orders  issued  to  seamen  in  a 
storm,  or  to  address  them  in  the  language  of  Aris- 
totle or  Descartes,  would  have  seemed  to  him  not  a 
whit  more  preposterous  than  to  divert  his  hearers 
from  their  danger  and  their  refuge,  their  duties  and 
their  hopes,  to  any  topics  more  trivial  or  more  ab- 
struse. In  fine,  he  was  thoroughly  and  continually 
in  earnest,  and  therefore  possessed  that  tension  of 
the  soul  which  admitted  neither  of  lassitude  nor  re- 
laxation, few  and  familiar  as  were  the  topics  to  which 
he  was  confined.  His  was,  therefore,  precisely  that 
state  of  mind  in  which  alone  eloquence,  properly  so 
called,  can  be  engendered,  and  a  moral  and  intellec- 
tual sovereignty  won. 

Nor  less  important  is  it  to  remark,  though  we 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  4T5 

need  not  illustrate  it  at  length.,  that  much  was  effect- 
ed by  every  one  seeing  that  he  always  forgot  himself 
in  his  subject,  and  rested  only  on  heaven  for  success. 
He  felt  himself  called  to  serve  Christ,  and  gave  him- 
self to  his  task,  to  save  sinners,  and  he  cared  for 
nothing  else.  No  one  ever  doubted  his  sincerity 
when  he  prayed,  "  Help  me,  Friend  of  sinners,  to  be 
nothing,  to  say  nothing,  that  thou  mayest  say  and  do 
every  thing,  and  be  my  all  in  all."  If  the  same  feel- 
ings were  fully  shown  by  the  ministry  at  present, 
our  messages  would  tell  more  on  the  hearts  of  our. 
hearers. 

We  need  hardly  remind  the  reader  that  White- 
field  was  remarkable  for  a  devotional  spirit.  Probably 
no  man  ever  lived  nearer  to  God.  Had  he  been  less 
prayerful,  he  would  have  been  less  powerful.  It  has 
been  said  that  during  a  few  of  the  last  years  of  his 
life  he  read  the  voluminous  exposition  of  Matthew 
Henry,  comprising  six  quarto  volumes,  in  a  kneeling 
posture,  pausing  and  praying  that  God  would  engraft 
upon  his  mind  the  instructions  of  that  extraordinary 
man.  When  he  came  before  his  auditors,  he  looked 
like  one  who  had  been  with  God.  This  it  was  which 
won  for  him  the  title  of  seraphic — he  was  a  human 
seraph,  and  burnt  out  in  the  blaze  of  his  own  fire. 
Usually  for  an  hour  or  two  before  he  went  into  the 
pulpit,  he  claimed  retirement.  In  this  claim  he  was 
imperative,  and  would  not  be  interrupted  in  his  sea- 
sons of  hallowed  intercourse  with  God. 

Engaged  almost  incessantly  in  preaching,  or  in 
preparation  for  it,  it  was  impossible,  however  much 
he  desired  it,  to  pay  many  private  visits  of  a  relig- 


476  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

ions  nature.  We  are  told,  however,  that  on  one  occa- 
sion, when  a  young  minister,,  afterwards  exceedingly 
popular  and  useful,  was  once  visiting  him,  he  was 
sent  for  to  visit  a  poor  woman  who  had  been  so 
dreadfully  burnt  that  she  could  not  survive  many 
hours.  He  went  immediately,  and  prayed  with  her. 
He  had  no  sooner  returned,  than  she  called  out,  "  Oh, 
where  is  Mr.  Whitefield?"  Urged  by  her  entreaty, 
her  friends  requested  him  to  visit  her  a  second  time. 
He  complied,  and  again  prayed  with  her.  The  poor 
•afflicted  woman  continued  still  to  desire  his  presence. 
When  her  friends  came  for  him  a  third  time,  "  I  begged 
of  him,"  said  the  young  clergyman,  "  not  to  go  ;  for 
he  could  scarcely  expect  to  do  any  good.  '  Your 
nerves  are  too  weak,  your  feelings  are  too  acute  to 
endure  such  scenes.'  I  shall  never  forget  his  mild 
reproof :  '  Leave  me  ;  my  Master  can  save  to  the  utter- 
most, to  the  very  uttermost.' " 

In  conversation  with  his  friends,  Whitefield  was 
as  far  removed  as  possible  from  duplicity  and  mere 
compliment.  He  invited  from  his  friends  whatever  of 
instruction  and  of  reproof  they  considered  him  to 
need.  And  while  he  was  always  ready  to  receive  re- 
proof, he  was,  when  called  to  the  duty,  ready  to  give 
it,  and  often  in  a  way  which  his  friends  did  not  expect. 
A  censorious  professor  of  religion,  knowing  the  doc- 
trinal differences  between  the  two  men,  asked  White- 
field  if  he  thought  they  would  see  Mr.  John  Wesley 
in  heaven.  His  answer  was  truly  admirable  :  "  No, 
sir,  I  fear  not ;  for  he  will  be  so  near  the  throne,  and 
we  shall  be  at  such  a  distance,  we  shall  hardly  get 
sight  of  him." 


TESTIMONIES  TO  HIS  MEMORY.  477 

It  is  said,  that  when  he  was  once  travelling  in 
company  with  a  Christian  man,  they  had  occasion  to 
stay  for  a  night  at  a  road-side  tavern.  After  they 
had  retired,  they  were  greatly  annoyed  by  a  company 
of  gamblers,  who  were  in  an  adjoining  room.  White- 
field  could  not  rest,  and  told  his  friend  that  he  would 
go  into  the  room  and  reprove  them  for  their  conduct. 
The  other  remonstrated  against  his  doing  so,  but  in 
vain.  He  went ;  and  unhappily,  his  words  fell  appar- 
ently powerless  upon  them.  Returning,  he  laid  down 
to  sleep.  "What,"  asked  his  companion,  "did  you 
gain  by  your  trouble  ?"  Whitefield  characteristically 
answered,  "A  soft  pillow." 

In  his  intercourse  with  general  society,  Mr.  White- 
field  never  forgot  his  dignity  as  a  servant  of  Jesus 
Christ.  When  he  was  in  the  zenith  of  his  popularity, 
Lord  Clare,  who  knew  that  his  influence  was  consid- 
erable, applied  to  him  by  letter,  requesting  his  influ- 
ence at  Bristol  at  the  ensuing  general  election.  To 
this  request  Mr.  Whitefield  replied,  that  in  general 
elections  he  never  interfered  ;  but  he  would  earnestly 
exhort  his  lordship  to  use  great  diligence  to  make  his 
own  particular  "  calling  and  election  sure." 

Mr.  Whitefield  was  greatly  distinguished,  even 
from  early  life,  for  neatness  in  his  person,  order  in 
his  apartments,  and  regular  method  in  the  manage- 
ment of  all  his  affairs.  He  was  accustomed  to  say 
that  a  minister  should  be  "  without  a  spot ;"  and  on 
one  occasion  remarked,  that  he  could  not  feel  comfort- 
able if  he  knew  that  his  gl&ves  were  out  of  their  proper 
place.  The  advantages  of  such  habits  are  numerous. 
They  save  time,  give  a  degree  of  comfort  which  can 


478  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

only  be  known  by  experience,  and  add  not  a  little  to 
the  dignity  of  the  Christian  minister. 

The  device  upon  Whitefield's  seal,  of  which  prob- 
ably few  impressions  are  now  to  be  found,  was  truly 
characteristic.  It  was  a  winged  heart  soaring  above 
the  globe,  and  its  motto  was,  "  Astra  petamus  " — Let 
us  seek  heaven. 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.      479 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CHARACTER  OF  WHITEFIELD  AS  A  PREACHER- 
CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS. 

IN  suggesting  a  few  of  the  CHARACTERISTICS  OP 
WHITEFIELD'S  PREACHING,  we  are  very  greatly  in- 
debted to  an  excellent  anonymous  writer  in  the  Lon- 
don Evangelical  Magazine  for  1853.  We  consider  as 
among  the  reasons  of  his  success,  and  as  worthy  of 
our  imitation, 

First,  the  prominence  given  to  the  leading  truths  of 
salvation,  and  the  constant  exaltation  of  Christ  in  them. 
There  needs  no.  minute  inquiry,  or  great  analytical 
care,  to  ascertain  what  was  the  pervading  theme  of 
this  popular  minister :  it  was  "  Christ,  and  him  cruci- 
fied," and  the  glorious  truths  that  hover  around  the 
cross,  and  derive  from  it  their  being  and  lustre. 
There  was  no  other  subject,  in  Whitefield's  estimation, 
that  was  worthy  of  preeminence,  and  to  unfold,  eluci- 
date, and  apply  it,  was  the  great  design  of  his  labors. 
He  saw  in  it  such  a  wonderful  adaptation  to  the 
necessities  and  condition  of  fallen  humanity,  that  he 
stood  in  the  midst  of  its  wants  and  woes  with  all  the 
confidence  of  a  good  physician  who  had  a  sovereign 
and  sufficient  remedy  to  propose.  He  knew  that 
there  was  no  case  which  it  could  not  meet,  no  moral 
disease  from  which  it  would  not  recover,  no  spiritual 
need  which  it  would  not  supply  ;  and  therefore,  how- 
ever far  gone  men  might  be  from  original  righteous- 
ness, however  hardened  in  sin,  sunk  in  iniquity,  or 


480  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

however  elevated  by  the  delusions  of  a  false  morality 
and  fancied  self-righteousness,  he  propounded  this  as 
the  only  and  all-sufficient  antidote,  at  once  to  destroy 
and  heal,  to  kill  and  to  make  alive.  As  to  the  spuri- 
ous production  of  a  rationalistic  theory  on  the  one 
hand,  or  the  prescriptions  of  ceremonial  virtue  and 
sacramental  grace  on  the  other,  he  knew  them  not. 
He  saw  at  once  their  hollpwness  and  insufficiency, 
and  would  not  mock  the  necessities  of  our  fallen  na- 
ture, or  aggravate  the  wounds  which  sin  had  made  by 
a  proposal  of  them.  His  acquaintance  with  the  hu- 
man heart  was  deep,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  differ- 
ent modifications  of  the  original  disease  was  so  great, 
that  he  despaired  of  relief  from  any  expedients  save 
that  which  infinite  "Wisdom  had  devised,  and  which 
"  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  "  revealed.  Philoso- 
phy with  all  its  discoveries,  and  reason  with  all  its 
powers,  the  law  with  all  its  authority,  and  virtue 
with  all  its  rewards,  he  knew  could  only,  like  the 
priests  and  the  Levites,  have  passed  the  patient  by, 
and  left  him  to  despair,  till  a  greater  than  they  should 
arrive,  and  say,  "  I  will  come  and  heal  you."  On  that 
adorable  Personage,  therefore,  and  the  wonders  of  his 
skill  and  love,  he  delighted  to  dwell.  Every  sermon 
was  full  of  Christ;  every  discourse  was  odorous  of 
him.  From  whatever  part  of  revealed  truth  he  de- 
rived his  text,  and  with  whatever  peculiar  develop- 
ment of  man's  moral  physiology  he  had  to  do,  there 
was  something  to  suggest,  to  demonsfrate  the  need, 
or  the  suitableness,  or  the  all-sufficiency  of  the  Saviour 
of  the  world.  To  set  him  forth,  in  the  glories  of  his 
wonderful  person,  the  variety  of  his  offices,  the  perfec- 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.      481 

tion  of  his  righteousness,  the  completeness  of  his 
atonement,  and  the  plenitude  of  his  grace,  was  his 
perpetual  aim.  To  these  he  gave  continual  promi- 
nence, at  all  times,  and  in  every  place.  There  was 
no  reserve,  no  equivocation,  no  partial  statement  on 
such  themes.  It  was  a  full,  clear,  consistent  gospel. 
From  his  lips  the  gospel  gave  no  "  uncertain  sound." 
This  made  him  a  welcome  messenger  of  glad  tidings 
to  all.  This  gave  him  a  key  to  the  hearts  of  many, 
who,  as  they  stood  around  him,  and  wondered  at  him, 
like  those  five  thousand  whom  the  Redeemer  fed  with 
"five  loaves  and  two  small  fishes,"  found  all  their 
appetites  suited,  and  all  their  necessities  supplied. 
It  was  the  magic  power  which  arrested  them;  the 
centre  of  gravitation  which  attracted  them ;  the  bread 
of  life  which  fed  them.  "  As  Moses  lifted  up  the  ser- 
pent in  the  wilderness,"  so  now  was  the  Son  of  man 
lifted  up  by  the  ministry  of  this  his  devoted  herald  ; 
anci  far  as  the  camp  extended,  and  wide  as  the  circum- 
ference of  poison  and  death  was  spread,  the  wounded 
looked  thereon  and  lived.  A  restorative  virtue  issued 
from  it.  The  hardest  heart  was  softened.  The  most 
obstinate  in  rebellion  was  overcome.  The  blindest 
saw.  The  moral  lepers  were  cleansed.  The  broken 
in  heart  were  made  whole,  and  the  spiritually  dead 
were  raised  to  life.  "  This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and 
it  was  marvellous  in  their  eyes."  They  beheld  the 
man.  They  heard  him  preach.  They  felt  the  power. 
It  was  because  He  was  exalted  among  them  who  had 
said,  "  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw 
all  men  unto  me." 

Secondly,  the  glow-  of  feeling,  the  melting  compos- 

Whitefield  21 


482  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

sion,  which  pervaded  his  own  soul.  Oh,  it  is  supremely 
delightful  and  deeply  affecting  to  observe  the  tender 
affection  and  melting  pathos  with  which  Whitefield 
propounded  and  proclaimed  the  precious  truths  and 
everlasting  verities  of  the  gospel  to  his  fellow-men. 
He  stood  among  them  as  one  of  their  race,  one  of  their 
number,  conscious  of  the  common  misery  into  which 
all  had  fallen,  and  weeping  over  the  miseries  and  ruin 
in  which  by  nature  they  were  alike  involved.  As  he 
opened  up  the  treasures  of  infinite  mercy,  and  the 
riches  of  redeeming  love  to  their  view,  he  wept  to 
think  how  long  they  had  been  unknown  or  despised 
by  many,  and  with  what  base  ingratitude  thousands 
would  probably  still  turn  away  from  them.  As  one 
who  saw  their  immortal  being  in  jeopardy,  and  their 
souls  standing  on  the  verge  of  irretrievable  ruin,  he 
hastened,  with  joy  in  his  countenance  and  tenderness 
in  his  heart,  to  tell  them  of  One  who  was  "  mighty  to 
save,"  and  that  "  now  was  the  accepted  time,  and  now 
the  day  of  salvation."  Not  as  one  who  had  a  cold 
lecture  on  ethics  to  deliver,  or  a  dissertation  on  phi- 
losophy to  expound,  or  a  problem  in  mathematics  to 
solve,  did  he  proceed  to  such  a  work  ;  but  as  one  who 
felt  the  weight  of  his  great  commission,  and  knew  the 
worth  of  never-dying  souls.  The  evil  of  sin,  the  dan- 
ger of  impenitence,  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come, 
the  glories  of  heaven,  and  the  unutterable  miseries  of 
the  regions  of  woe,  were  visibly  present  to  his  own 
mind ;  and  of  these,  "  out  of  the  abundance  of  his 
heart,"  he  spoke  to  others.  He  could  not  be  calm, 
lie  could  not  be  apathetic  on  such  themes  as  these. 
"  Passion  was  reason,  transport  temper,  here." 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.     483 

And  with  much  of  the  melting  tenderness  of  Him 
who  wept  over  Jerusalem,  he  spoke  of  these  things 
to  all  that  resorted  to  him.  What  moving  words  did 
he  utter  on  Blackheath  hill,  in  the  Tabernacle  pulpit, 
and  on  Kingswood  mount!  His  vivid  eye  beamed 
with  the  glow  of  tenderness,  and  his  tears,  as  he 
spoke,  oft-times  moistened  his  little  Bible  or  bedewed 
the  ground.  In  his  printed  sermons,  which  doubtless 
are  but  feeble  specimens  of  his  free  and  fervent  man- 
ner, there  are  strains  of  tender  pathos  and  impas- 
sioned oratory,  which  it  is  almost  impossible  to  read 
even  now  without  being  moved  to  share  in  his  feel- 
ings and  in  the  emotions  which  they  must  have  en- 
kindled around ;  and  in  the  perusal  of  which  we 
wonder  not  that,  in  all  the  circumstances,  the  place 
in  which  he  stood  was  a  Bochim — a  place  of  weeping. 
Oh,  the  melting  power,  the  exquisite  pathos,  the  ten- 
der expostulation  of  this  preeminent  man,  and  unri- 
valled preacher  of  the  gospel  of  our  salvation !  We 
wish  we  could  catch  them  now — that  all  preachers 
possessed  them ;  that  the  rising  ministry  especially 
would  emulate  him  in  these  things.  Whitefield  show- 
ed his  intense  feeling,  not  from  the  mere  power  of 
ratiocination,  or  from  the  poetic  memento,  or  for  the 
sake  of  producing  effect  by  the  tears  that  were  unfelt, 
or  which  only  flowed  from  the  surface;  but  from  the 
meltings  of  a  tender  heart,  influenced  by  a  Saviour's 
love,  and  overflowing  with  the  commiseration  of  a 
benign  compassion  for  dying  multitudes  around.  Dod- 
dridge's  beautiful  hymn, 

"  Arise,  my  tcnderest  thoughts,  arise," 

one  might  almost  think  was  written  at  Whitefield's 


484  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

side.  The  tenderness  of  Joan,  and  the  "  weeping  "  of 
Paul,  were  blended  in  Mm  with  the  boldness  of  Peter. 
The  love  that  agonized  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane, 
and  bled  on  the  cross  of  Calvary,  was  largely  diffused 
through  all  his  powers. 

Thirdly,  the  direct  address  of  his  ministry.  The 
characteristic  mode  of  his  preaching,  and  the  style  of 
his  public  ministrations,  was,  to  direct  his  appeal  to 
the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his  hearers,  and  to 
"  preach  to  the  people  all  the  words  of  this  life."  It 
was  not  an  harangue  before  them.  It  was  not  an 
oration  beautifully  prepared,  read,  or  delivered  in 
their  hearing,  and  presented  simply  for  their  accept- 
ance and  admiration ;  but  a  direct  address,  an  affec- 
tionate appeal,  a  solemn  and  earnest  communication 
of  the  message  he  had  received  from  God  to  them. 
Oh,  we  have  sometimes  thought,  what  a  marked  dif- 
ference there  ought  to  be  between  the  ministrations  of 
a  servant  of  Christ  to  his  fellow-immortals,  on  things 
of  eternal  importance  in  which  they  are  personally 
and  deeply  concerned,  and  the  delivery  of  a  lecture 
from  the  philosopher's  desk,  or  even  of  a  dissertation 
on  theology  from  the  professorial  chair.  So  thought 
the  apostles.  So  thought  the  prophets  and-  public 
teachers  of  sacred  mysteries  of  old.  They  had  the 
"  burden  of  the  Lord  "  to  deliver,  and  it  was  unto  the 
people.  They  had  an  embassy  to  execute,  and  it  was 
by  negotiating  directly  with,  and  in  the  consciences 
of  their  hearers.  Whitefield  caught  their  spirit,  pro- 
ceeded in  their  way,  and  did  such  mighty  execution, 
not  by  the  mere  symmetrical  illustration  of  divine 
truth,  but  by  the  direct  presentation  of  it  to  their 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.     485 

minds.  They  had  not  to  ask,  "  For  whom  is  all  this 
intended  ?"  and,  "  Is  it  designed  for  us  ?"  They  felt 
that  it  was.  It  came  home  to  their  consciences,  and 
to  their  very  hearts.  They  could  not  transfer  it  to 
others,  nor  avoid  the  application  of  it  to  themselves. 
Had  the  preacher  called  them  by  name,  which  in  his 
skilful  delineation  of  character,  he  sometimes  virtually 
did,  they  could  not  have  been  more  certain  that  he 
intended  it  for  them,  and  that  it  was  at  their  peril  to 
neglect  or  pass  it  by.  "  I  have  a  message  from  God 
unto  thee,"  he  substantially  said  in  every  discourse  he 
uttered,  and  the  people  were  compelled  to  believe  it. 
"  Go,  and  tell  this  people,"  said  the  divine  voice  to 
Isaiah,  "  Ye  hear  indeed,  but  do  not  understand ;  ye 
see  indeed,  but  do  not  perceive."  "  Therefore,"  said 
Peter,  "  let  all  the  house  of  Israel  know  assuredly  that 
God  hath  made  that  same  Jesus,  whom  ye  have  cruci- 
fied, both  Lord  and  Christ."  "  Now  then,"  said  Paul, 
"  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ  j  as  though  God  did 
beseech  you  by  us,  we  pray  you,  in  Christ's  stead,  be 
ye  reconciled  to  God."  Such  was  the  tenor  of  the 
apostolic  ministry.  '  Such  the  secret  of  its  mighty 
power  and  success.  And  such  also  was  the  charac- 
teristic of  the  faithful  and  seraphic  Whitefield,  by 
which  he  knocked  at  the  door  of  many  hearts,  and 
those  hearts  were  opened  to  him,  to  his  message,  and 
to  his  Lord.  His  plan  was  that  of  heavenly  wisdom ; 
JLis  appeal  was  the  same.  "  Unto  you,  0  men,  I  call, 
and  my  voice  is  to  the  sons  of  men."  In  him  were 
verified  the  poet's  graphic  lines : 

"  There  stands -the  messenger  of  truth ;  there  stands 
The  legate  of  the  skies:  his  theme  divine, 


486  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

His  office  sacred,  his  credentials  clear. 

By  him  the  violated  law  speaks  out 

Its  thunders ;  and  by  him,  in  strains  as  sweet 

As  angels  use,  the  gospel  whispers  peace. 

He  stablishes  the  strong,  restores  the  weak, 

Reclaims  the  wanderer,  binds  the  broken  heart, 

And  sues  the  sinner  to  return  to  God." 

Fourthly,  his  habitual  dependence  on  the  Spirit  of 
God,  and  his  earnest  aspirations  for  the  manifestation  of 
his  power.  That  he  was  conscious  of  his  own  superior 
talents  as  an  orator,  and  knew  how  to  employ  them  on 
sacred  themes ;  that  he  skilfully  wielded  all  the  weap- 
ons of  a  well-studied  eloquence  to  gain  access  to  the 
human  mind,  and  knew  both  how  to  alarm  and  how  to 
persuade,  and  could  attempt  both  with  as  much  success 
probably  as  any  speaker,  either  of  ancient  or  modern 
times ;  that  he  had  a  large  and  minute  acquaintance 
with  the  powers  and  passions  of  the  human  soul,  and 
knew  well  when  and  how  to  touch  the  hidden  springs 
of  its  energies  and  actions ;  that  he  had  a  good  amount 
of  common  and  sacred  learning  at  his  command,  and 
like  that  Apollos  whom  among  the  early  teachers  of 
Christianity  he  most  resembled,  was  "  mighty  in  the 
Scriptures ;"  and  that  he  delighted  to  expatiate  on 
the  wonders  and  glories  of  redemption  as  a  restorative 
scheme  preeminently  adapted  to  interest  and  attract, 
to  impress  and  rule  our  common  nature — are  facts 
open  to  all  who  inspect  his  writings  and  accompany 
him  in  his  labors,  and  will  be  denied  by  none.  But 
with  all  these,  and  amid  all,  in  every  sermon  he  com- 
posed and  delivered,  and  in  his  most  impassioned 
addresses  to  his  hearers,  there  is  manifested  an  under- 
lying and  all-pervading  dependence  on  the  power  and 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.      481 

grace  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  which  was  in  character,  if 
not  in  degree,  meek,  humble,  genuine,  entire,  like  that 
of  the  most  eminent  apostle  or  adoring  saint  at  the 
foot  of  the  divine  throne.  With  him  it  was  not 
merely  a  sentiment,  but  a  feeling ;  and  that  feeling 
constant  and  habitual,  as  it  was  in  him  who  in  the 
review  of  his  labors  said,  "I  have  planted,  Apollos 
watered,  but  God  gave  the  increase."  He  knew  that 
none  but  the  almighty  Spirit  could  gain  effectual 
access  to  the  spirit  of  man ;  and  that  not  even  a  Me- 
lancthon,  a  Luther,  or  a  Whiteneld,  could  make  old 
Adam  yield,  unless  constrained  by  a  superior  power. 
He  seemed  to  stand  in  the  valley  of  vision  among  the 
dry  bones,  as  the  prophet  did,  and  while  he  addressed 
them  with  something  like  a  prophet's  power,  he  had 
no  expectation  or  hope  of  success  until  the  wind  of 
heaven  came  down  and  blew  upon  them.  Therefore 
he  prophesied  to  it  as  well  as  to  them.  "  Come  from 
the  four  winds,  0  breath,  and  breathe  upon  the  slain, 
that  they  may  live,"  was  often  the  mighty  cry  of  his 
soul,  before  preaching,  while  preaching,  and  after 
preaching.  It  seemed  to  be  his  joy,  his  only,  his  all- 
sustaining  confidence,  that  he  lived  under  "the  dis- 
pensation of  the  Spirit,"  and  wrought  in"  a  day,  and 
preached  upon  a  theme,  in  connection  with  which  "  the 
ministration  of  the  Spirit"  was  to  be  "glorious,"  by 
his  wonderful  works  of  conviction,  conversion,  and 
sanctification,  among  the  children  of  men.  To  that 
Spirit,  as  the  glorifier  of  Christ,  he  often  devoutly 
and  earnestly  appealed.  Sometimes,  in  the  midst  of 
an  unusual  flow  of  tender  and  eloquent  address  to  his 
hearers  on  his  favorite  theme  of  the  glories  and  grace 


488  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

of  his  divine  Master,  he  would  pause  in  solemn  silence, 
and  lifting  up  his  hands  and  his  voice  to  heaven,  and 
carrying  the  hearts  of  his  audience  with  him,  invoke 
aloud  the  descending  and  all-consuming  fire.  The 
present  God  was  acknowledged  and  felt.  The  word 
came  "  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power." 
And  while  the  habitual  aim  of  his  preaching  was  to 
exalt  "  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,'7  and  while  he  reasoned, 
and  opened  the  Scriptures,  and  taught  and  alarmed 
or  invited  his  hearers,  in  the  most  touching  strains  of 
urgent  remonstrance  and  tender  entreaty,  to  accept 
now  "  the  great  salvation,"  the  inward  state  of  his  soul 
was  that  of  entire  reliance  on  the  presence  and  co- 
operation of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God.  To  him  were 
sent  up  his  most  intense  aspirations.  In  all  the  rec- 
ords of  his  success,  to  that  Spirit  the  honor  is  always 
ascribed.  "  Not  I,  but  the  grace  of  God  which  was 
with  me,"  is  the  grateful  acknowledgment  he  makes  in 
the  review  of  every  field  occupied  and  every  triumph 
won.  And  thus  it  was  that  the  fabric  of  his  ministry, 
and  of  all  his  ministrations,  in  the  multitudinous  la- 
bors which  he  directed  against  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness and  of  Satan  in  his  day,  was  like  the  mystic 
vision  which  Ezekiel  saw,  instinct  with  life.  The  spirit 
of  the  living  creatures  was  in  the  wheels.  "  When 
this  went,  those  went ;  when  this  stood,  those  stood  ; 
when  this  was  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  those  were 
lifted  up."  It  was  all  life.  A  living  preacher ;  a  liv- 
ing theme  ;  a  living  power,  giving  life,  and  spreading 
it  all  around.  Therefore  it  was  that  life  followed  in 
the  region  of  death,  and  at  his  corning  the  desert  re- 
joiced, and  the  wilderness  blossomed  as  the  rose. 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.     489 

"  Dry  bones  were  raised,  and  clothed  afresh, 
And  hearts  of  stone  were  turned  to  flesh." 

By  preaching  such  as  we  have  now  attempted  to 
describe,  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  were  gath- 
ered to  Christ.  "  An  exceeding  great  army  "  stood  up. 
Slumbering  churches  were  awakened,  religion  was 
revived,  and  "righteousness  and  praise"  were  caused 
to  "  spring  forth  before  all  the  nations."  And  as  this 
apostolic  man  surveyed  the  amazing  scene,  and  glanced 
at  the  wide  circumference  of  his  labors,  in  the  British 
Isles  and  in  the  New  World,  he  might  have  exclaimed, 
as  one  before  him  had  done,  "  Now  thanks  be  unto 
God,  who  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in  Christ,  and 
maketh  manifest  the  savor  of  his  name  by  us  in  every 
place."  "Through  mighty  signs  and  wonders,  by  the 
power  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  from  Jerusalem  round 
about  to  Illyricum,  I  have  fully  preached  the  gospel 
of  Christ."  "  For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ :  for  it  is  the  power,  of  God  to  salvation ;  to  the 
Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Greek."  Who,  in  the  remem- 
brance of  Whitefield  and  his  times,  will  not  long  for 
their  return,  and  exclaim,  "  Awake,  awake ;  put  on 
strength,  0  arm  of  the  Lord  ;  awake,  as  in  the  ancient 
days."  "  0  that  thou  wouldest  rend  the  heavens,  that 
thou  wouldest  come  down,  that  the  mountains  might 
flow  down  at  thy  presence,  as  when  the  melting  fire 
burneth,  the  fire  causeth  the  waters  to  boil,  to  make 
thy  name  known  to  thine  adversaries,  that  the  nations 
may  tremble  at  thy  presence  1"  Spirit  of  the  living 
God,  descend  and  replenish  with  thy  power  all  our 
souls,  our  ministry,  our  temples,  our  land. 

21* 


490  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

In  estimating  the  character  of  Whitefield,  it  should 
be  observed  that  he  dealt  with  his  hearers,  individually 
and  collectively,  as  immortal  beings.  To  use  the  lan- 
guage of  Isaac  Taylor,  "  he  held  MAN  as  if  in  the  ab- 
stract, or  as  if  whatever  is  not  common  to  all  men 
were  forgotten.  The  most  extreme  diversities,  intel- 
lectual and  moral,  differences  of  rank,  culture,  nation- 
al modes  of  thought,  all  gave  way  and  ceased  to  be 
thought  of ;  distinctions  were  swept  from  the  ground 
where  he  took  his  position.  At  the  first  opening  of 
his  lips,  and  as  the  rich  harmony  of  his  voice  spread 
its  undulations  over  the  expanse  of  human  faces,  and 
at  the  instant  when  the  sparkle  of  his  bright  eye 
caught  every  other  eye,  human  nature,  in  a  manner, 
dropped  its  individuality,  and  presented  itself  in  its 
very  elements  to  be  moulded  anew.  Whitefield, 
although  singularly  gifted  with  a  perception  of  the 
varieties  of  character,  yet  spoke  as  if  he  could  know 
nothing  of  the  thousands  before  him  but  their  immor- 
tality and  their  misery ;  and  so  it  was  that  these 
thousands  listened  to  him. 

"  No  preacher  whose  history  is  on  record,  has  trod 
so  wide  a  field  as  did  Whitefield,  or  has  retrod  it  so 
often,  or  has  repeated  himself  so  much,  or  has  carried 
so  far  the  experiment  of  exhausting  himself,  and  of 
spending  his  popularity,  if  it  could  have  been  spent, 
but  it  never  was  spent.  Within  the  compass  of  a  few 
weeks  he  might  have  been  heard  addressing  the  ne- 
groes of  the  Bermuda  islands,  adapting  himself  to 
their  infantile  understandings,  and  to  their  debauched 
hearts  ;  and  then  at  Chelsea,  with  the  aristocracy  of 
rank  and  wit  before  him,  approving  himself  to  listen- 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.  491 

ers  such  as  the  lords  Bolingbroke  and  Chesterfield. 
Whitefield  might  as  easily  have  produced  a  Hamlet 
or  a  Paradise  Lost,  as  have  excogitated  a  sermon 
which,  as  a  composition,  a  product  of  thought,  would 
have  tempted  men  like  these  to  hear  him  a  second 
time  ;  and  as  to  his  faculty  and  graces  as  a  speaker, 
his  elocution  and  action,  a  second  performance  would 
have  contented  them.  But  in  fact  Bolingbroke,  and 
many  of  his  class,  thought  not  the  hour  long,  time 
after  time,  while,  with  much  sameness  of  material  and 
of  language,  he  spoke  of  eternity  and  of  salvation  in 
Christ.  .  .  .  Floods  of  tears  moistened  cheeks  rough 
and  smooth ;  and  sighs,  suppressed  or  loudly  uttered, 
gave  evidence  that  human  nature  is  one  and  the  same 
when  it  comes  in  presence  of  truths  which  bear  upon 
the  guilty  and  the  immortal  without  distinction." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  James  Hamilton  of  London  has  ad- 
mirably delineated  Whitefield,  in  a  passage  which  must 
be  admired  by  all  who  read  it :  "  Whitefield  was  the 
prince  of  English  preachers.  Many  have  surpassed 
him  as  sermon-makers,  but  none  have  approached  him 
as  a  pulpit  orator.  Many  have  outshone  him  in  the 
clearness  of  their  logic,  the  grandeur  of  their  concep- 
tions, and  the  sparkling  beauty  of  single  sentences; 
but  in  the  power  of  darting  the  gospel  direct  into  the 
conscience,  he  eclipsed  them  all.  With  a  full  and 
beaming  countenance,  and  the  frank  and  easy  port 
which  the  English  people  love — for  it  is  the  symbol 
of  honest  purpose  and  friendly  assurance — he  com- 
bined a  voice  of  rich  compass,  which  could  easily  thrill 
over  Moorfields  in  musical  thunder,  or  whisper  its  ter- 


492  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

rible  secret  in  every  private  ear ;  and  to  this  gainly 
aspect  and  tuneful  voice  he  added  a  most  expressive 
and  eloquent  action.  Improved  by  conscientious  prac- 
tice, and  instinct  with  his  earnest  nature,  this  elocu- 
tion was  the  acted  sermon,  and  by  its  pantomimic 
portrait  enabled  the  eye  to  anticipate  each  rapid 
utterance,  and  helped  the  memory  to  treasure  up  the 
palatable  ideas.  None  ever  used  so  boldly,  nor  with 
more  success,  the  highest  styles  of  impersonation :  as 
when  he  described  to  his  sailor-auditors  a  storm  at 
sea,  and  compelled  them  to  shout, '  Take  to  the  long- 
boat, sir!'  His  'hark,  hark!'  could  conjure  up  Geth- 
semane  with  its  faltering  moon,  and  awake  again  the 
cry  of  horror-stricken  innocence  ;  and  an  apostrophe 
to  Peter  on  the  holy  mount  would  light  up  another 
Tabor,  and  drown  it  in  glory  from  the  opening  heav- 
en. His  thoughts  were  possessions,  and  his  feelings 
were  transformations ;  and  he  spoke  because  he  felt, 
his  hearers  understood  because  they  saw.  They  were 
not  only  enthusiastic  amateurs,  like  Garrick,  who  ran 
to  weep  and  tremble  at  his  bursts  of  passion,  but  even 
the  colder  critics  of  the  "Walpole  school  were  surpris- 
ed into  momentary  sympathy  and  reluctant  wonder. 
Lord  Chesterfield  was  listening  in  Lady  Huntingdon's 
pew  when  Whitefield  was  comparing  the  benighted 
sinner  to  a  blind  beggar  on  a  dangerous  road.  His 
little  dog  gets  away  from  him  when  skirting  the  edge 
of  a  precipice,  and  he  is  left  to  explore  the  path  with 
his  iron-shod  staff.  On  the  very  verge  of  the  cliff  this 
blind  guide  slips  through  his  fingers  and  skims  away 
down  the  abyss.  All  unconscious,  the  owner  stoops 
down  to  regain  it,  and  stumbling  forward — 'Good 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.     493 

God,  lie  is  gone !'  shouted  Chesterfield,  who  had  been 
watching  with  breathless  alarm  the  blind  man's  move- 
ments, and  who  jumped  from  his  feet  to  save  the  catas- 
trophe. 

"  But  the  glory  of  Whitefield's  preaching  was  his 
heart-kindled  and  heart-melting  gospel.  But  for 
this,  all  his  bold  strokes  and  brilliant  surprises  might 
have  been  no  better  than  the  rhetorical  triumphs  of 
Kirwan  and  other  pulpit  dramatists.  He  was  an  ora- 
tor, but  he  only  sought  to  be  an  evangelist.  Like  a 
volcano  where  gold  and  gems  may  be  darted  forth  as 
well  as  common  things,  but  where  gold  and  molten 
granite  flow  all  alike  in  fiery  fusion,  bright  thoughts 
and  splendid  images  might  be  projected  from  his  pul- 
pit, but  all  were  merged  in  the  stream  which  bore 
along  the  gospel  and  himself  in  blended  fervor.  In- 
deed, so  simple  was  his  nature,  that  glory  to  God  and 
good  will  to  man  had  filled  it ;  there  was  room  for  lit- 
tle more.  Having  no  church  to  found,  no  family  to 
enrich,  and  no  memory  to  immortalize,  he  was  simply 
the  ambassador  of  God ;  and  inspired  with  its  genial 
piteous  spirit — so  full  of  heaven  reconciled  and  hu- 
manity restored — he  soon  himself  became  a  living 
gospel.  Radiant  with  its  benignity,  and  trembling 
with  its  tenderness,  by  a  sort  of  spiritual  induction  a 
vast  audience  would  speedily  be  brought  into  a  frame 
of  mind — the  transfusing  of  his  own ;  and  the  white 
furrows  on  their  sooty  faces  told  that  Kingswood  col- 
liers were  weeping,  or  the  quivering  of  an  ostrich 
plume  bespoke  its  elegant  wearer's  deep  emotion. 
And  coming  to  his  pulpit  direct  from  communion  with 
his  Master,  and  in  the  strength  of  accepted  prayer, 


494  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

there  was  an  elevation  in  his  mien  which  often  para- 
lyzed hostility,  and  a  self-possession  which  made  him 
amid  uproar  and  confusion  the  more  sublime.  With 
an  electric  bolt  he  would  bring  the  jester  in  his  fool's 
cap  from  his  perch  on  the  tree,  or  galvanize  the  brick- 
bat from  the  skulking  miscreant's  grasp,  or  sweep 
down  in  crouching  submission  and  shamefaced  silence 
the  whole  of  Bartholomew  fair ;  while  a  revealing 
flash  of  sententious  doctrine,  of  vivified  Scripture, 
would  disclose  to  awe-struck  hundreds  the  forgotten 
verities  of  another  world,  or  the  unsuspected  arcana 
of  their  inner  man.  '  I  came  to  break  your  head,  but, 
through  you,  God  has  broken  my  heart,'  was  a  sort 
of  confession  with  which  he  was  familiar  ;  and  to  see 
the  deaf  old  gentlewoman  who  used  to  mutter  impre- 
cations at  him  as  he  passed  along  the  streets,  clam- 
bering up  the  pulpit  stairs  to  catch  his  angelic  words, 
was  a  sort  of  spectacle  which  the  triumphant  gospel 
often  witnessed  in  his  day.  And  when  it  is  known 
that  his  voice  could  be  heard  by  twenty  thousand,  and 
that  ranging  all  the  empire,  as  well  as  America,  he 
would  often  preach  thrice  on  a  working-day,  and  that 
he  has  received  in  one  week  as  many  as  a  thousand 
letters  from  persons  awakened  by  his  sermons,  if  no 
estimate  can  be  formed  of  the  results  of  his  ministry, 
some  idea  may  be  suggested  of  its  vast  extent  and 
singular  effectiveness." 

Very  admirably  has  a  writer  in  the  North  British 
Review  compared  and  contrasted  Whitefield  and  Wes- 
ley. He  says,  "Few  characters  could  be  more  com- 
pletely the  converse,  and  in  the  church's  exigencies, 


CHARACTER  AS  A  PREACHER.     495 

more  happily  the  supplement  of  one  another,  than 
were  those  of  George  Whitefield  and  John  Wesley ; 
and  had  their  views  been  identical,  and  their  labors 
all  along  coincident,  their  large  services  to  the  gospel 
might  have  repeated  Paul  and  Barnabas.  Whitefield 
was  soul,  and  Wesley  was  system.  Whitefield  was  a 
summer  cloud  which  burst  at  morning  or  noon  a  fra- 
grant exhalation  over  an  ample  track,  and  took  the 
rest  of  the  day  to  gather  again ;  Wesley  was  the  pol- 
ished conduit  in  the  midst  of  the  garden,  through 
which  the  living  water  glided  in  pearly  brightness 
and  perennial  music,  the  same  vivid  stream  from  day 
to  day.  After  a  preaching  paroxysm,  Whitefield  lay 
panting  on  his  couch,  spent,  breathless,  and  deathlike; 
after  his  morning  sermon  in  the  foundry,  Wesley 
would  mount  his  pony,  and  trot  and  chat,  and  gather 
simples,  till  he  reached  some  country  hamlet,  where 
he  would  bait  his  charger,  and  talk  through  a  little 
sermon  with  the  villagers,  and  remount  his  pony  and 
trot  away  again.  In  his  aerial  poise,  Whitefield's 
eagle  eye  drank  lustre  from  the  source  of  light,  and 
loved  to  look  down"  on  men  in  assembled  myriads; 
Wesley's  falcon  glance  did  not  sweep  so  far,  but  it 
searched  more  keenly  and  marked  more  minutely 
where  it  pierced.  A  master  of  assemblies,  Whitefield 
was  no  match  for  the  isolated  man.  Seldom  coping 
with  the  multitude,  but  strong  in  astute  sagacity  and 
personal  ascendency,  Wesley  could  conquer  any  num- 
ber one  by  one.  All  force  and  impetus,  Whitefield 
was  the  powder-blast  in  the  quarry,  and  by  one  explo- 
sive sermon  would  shake  a  district,  and  detach  mate- 
rials for  other  men's  long  work — deft,  neat,  and  pains- 


496  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

taking,  Wesley  loved  to  split  and  trim  each  fragment 
into  uniform  plinths  and  polished  stones.  Or,  taken 
otherwise,  Whitefield  was  the  bargeman  or  the  wag- 
oner who  brought  the  timber  of  the  house,  and  Wesley 
was  the  architect  who  set  it  up.  Whitefield  had  no 
patience  for  ecclesiastical  polity,  no  aptitude  for  pas- 
toral details — with  a  beaver-like  propensity  for  build- 
ing, Wesley  was  always  constructing  societies,  and 
with  a  king-like  craft  of  ruling,  was  most  at  home 
when  presiding  over  a  class  or  a  conference.  It  was 
their  infelicity  that  they  did  not  always  work  togeth- 
er— it  was  the  happiness  of  the  age,  and  the  further- 
ance of  the  gospel,  that  they  lived  alongside  of  one 
another." 


CENTENNIAL   COMMEMORATIONS. 

When  a  century  had  elapsed  from  the  commence- 
ment of  Whitefield's  public  labors,  it  was  deemed  de- 
sirable by  many  in  England  to  hold  public  services 
of  a  devotional  and  practical  character,  in  celebration 
of  the  event.  Especially  was  it  designed  that  such 
celebrations  should  have  a  reference,  as  far  as  possible, 
to  advance  open-air  preaching.  The  first  services  of 
this  character  were  very  properly  held  in  the  Taber- 
nacle, London,  on  May  21,  1839,  and  well  do  we 
remember  with  what  intense  interest,  in  common  with 
thousands,  we  attended  them.  Ministers  and  laymen 
of  at  least  four  religious  denominations  assisted  in 
them,  and  eloquently  discoursed  on  subjects  illustrat- 
ing the  grace  of  God  in  connection  with  Whitefield, 
but  still  more  intent  were  they  on  benefiting  the  pros- 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.          491 

ent  and  future  generations  of  men.  Dr.  Campbell 
delivered  a  sermon  on  the  character  and  labors  of 
Apollos,  illustrated  by  those  of  Whitefield ;  the  late 
Dr.  Cox  discoursed  on  the  genius  and  labors  of  White- 
field  ;  the  late  Rev.  John  Blackburn  described  the  past 
and  present  state  of  religion  in  England ;  and  the  Rev. 
John  Young,  LL.  D.,  urged  the  propriety,  duty,  and 
necessity  of  open-air  preaching.  In  addition  to  these 
sermons,  several  admirable  speeches  were  made,  and 
every  thing  was  marked  by  a  spirit  of  earnest  devo- 
tion. A  small  volume,  containing  the  sermons  and 
speeches,  was  printed,  and  put  into  extensive  circula- 
tion. 

About  the  same  time,  a  number  of  ministers  of  the 
Congregational  order  met  in  a  central  town  of  Glou- 
cestershire, when  one  of  them  suggested,  that  "as  the 
present  year  was  the  centenary  of  the  Rev.  George 
Whitefield's  labors  in  reviving  the  apostolic  practice 
of  open-air  preaching,  it  might  be  desirable  to  com- 
memorate them  by  a  special  religious  open-air  celebra- 
tion. It  was  further  remarked,  that  Whitefield  was 
a  native  of  Gloucester ;  that  as  many  ministers  pres- 
ent presided  over  churches  instituted  by  his  ministry ; 
that  as  Stinchcombe  hill,  in  the  very  centre  of  the 
county,  presented  a  most  beautiful  and  eligible  spot 
for  a  public  meeting  ;  and  as  upon  its  summit,  a  cen- 
tury ago,  Whitefield  himself  had  preached  and  showed 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  it  seemed  a 
duty  to  improve  the  opportunity  it  offered  of  address- 
ing, on  the  gracious  persuasives  of  the  cross,  a  large 
concourse  of  persons,  many  of  whom  might  never  hear 
the  gospel,  and  of  promoting  in  the  county  the  revival 


498  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

of  evangelical  religion,  which  God  so  highly  honored 
his  devoted  servant  in  commencing  in  our  land." 

The  suggestion  was  most  cordially  received,  ar- 
rangements were  made,  and,  July  30, 1839,  though  the 
weather  was  unfavorable,  the  meeting  was  attended 
by  at  least  seven  thousand  persons.  A  large  preach- 
ing stand  was  erected  for  the  ministers,  nearly  one 
hundred  of  whom  were  present.  Sermons  were 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Matheson  and  Ross,  and  by 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  T.  East,  J.  H.  Hinton,  and  J.  Sibree  j 
and  addresses  were  given,  and  the  devotional  exercises 
led  by  many  others.  The  services  were  solemnly  im- 
pressive. The  late  Josiah  Conder,  Esq.,  wrote  two 
hymns  especially  for  the  occasion,  which  are  well 
worthy  of  preservation ;  we  therefore  transfer  them 
to  our  pages. 

How  sweet  from  crowded  throngs, 

Zion,  ascend  thy  songs, 
With  choral  swells  through  echoing  aisles ! 

Where  brethren,  brethren  meet, 

These  songs  rise  doubly  sweet, 
From  humbler  rooms  or  loftier  piles. 

But  here,  not  made  with  hands, 

A  nobler  temple  stands ; 
Here,  'mid  thy  works,  0  God,  we  bow, 

Where  all  around,  above, 

Proclaims  thy  power  and  love  ; 
Oh,  tune  our  hearts  to  praise  thee  now. 

We  bless  thy  gracious  care, 

For  many  a  house  of  prayer, 
Where  saints  may  meet  with  conscience  free, 

To  keep  thy  simple  rites, 

In  which  thy  church  delights, 
And  unfor bidden,  wait  on  thee. 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.          499 

But  now,  beneath  the  sky, 

We  raise  our  songs  on  high, 
To  Him  who  gave  all  nature  birth ; 

While  the  free  air  wafts  round 

To  distant  vales  the  sound — 
Praise  to  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth. 

So  to  the  mountain  air 

The  Saviour  breathed  his  prayer ; 
So  'mid  green  hills  or  deserts  rude, 

The  poor  he  meekly  taught, 

And  gracious  wonders  wrought, 
Or  fed  the  famished  multitude. 

So  did  apostles  teach ; 

So  did  our  Whitefield  preach ; 
These  hills  have  heard  his  fervent  prayer : 

Oh,  let  the  saving  word 

Throughout  our  land  be  heard, 
Free  as  the  light,  and  open  as  the  air. 


II. 

Where  is  the  voice  of  Whitefield  now? 

Where  does  his  mantle  rest  ? 
Oh,  for  Elisha's  from  the  plough, 

With  kindred  zeal  possessed ! 
Apostles  of  heroic  mould, 

With  love  seraphic  fired, 
Divinely  called,  like  those  of  old 

At  Pentecost  inspired ! 

Oh  THOU,  our  Head,  enthroned  on  high, 

By  whom  thy  members  live, 
Wilt  thou  not  hear  our  fervent  cry, 

The  holy  unction  give  ? 
In  all  the  plenitude  of  grace 

Thy  gifts  of  might  bestow ; 
And  by  us,  Lord,  in  every  place, 

Thy  saving  virtue  show. 


500  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

This  Christian  land  with  error  teems, 

The  blind  by  blinder  led  ; 
The  sophist  weaves  his  Atheist  schemes ; 

Wide  has  the  poison  spread. 
Arise,  0  Lord,  send  forth  thy  word ; 

Thy  faithful  heralds  call ; 
And  while  the  gospel  trump  is  heard, 

Let  Satan's  bulwarks  fall. 

Free,  pure,  and  vital  as  the  light, 

GOD'S  message  to  our  race ; 
Like  genial  gales  the  SPIRIT'S  might, 

Sovereign,  mysterious  grace. 
Breathe  forth,  0  wind,  and  to  new  birth 

Quicken  the  bones  of  death ; 
Regenerate  this  withered  earth ; 

Give  to  the  dying  breath. 

It  is  pleasant  to  add  to  this  account,  that  satisfac- 
tory evidences  were  given  that  some,  during  these  ser- 
vices, were  brought  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  "the 
truth  as  in  Jesus."  And  it  may  be  mentioned  as  a 
singular  circumstance,  that  an  old  man  one  hundred 
and  three  years  of  age  attended  on  this  occasion, 
who  had  been  carried  in  his  mother's  arms  to  this 
same  spot  to  hear  Whitefield  preach  just  a  century 
before. 

The  last  centenary  service  to  which  we  shall  make 
reference,  is  the  one  held  at  the  Bristol  Tabernacle, 
November  25,  1853.  The  sermon  on  The  Character 
of  W/iitefield,  by  the  Rev.  John  Angell  James,  was 
from  the  text,  "This  one  thing  I  do."  Phil.  3  : 13. 
In  it  he  said : 

"  We  hear  much  in  our  days  about  the  adaptation 
of  the  gospel  to  the  age.  There  is  no  word  I  more 
hate  or  love,  dread  or  desire,  according  to  the  sense 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.          501 

in,  or  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  used,  than  this  word 
adaptation  as  applied  to  preaching.  Now,  if  by  adap- 
tation be  meant,  more  philosophy,  and  less  Christian- 
ity ;  more  of  cold  abstract  intellectualism,  and  less  of 
popular,  simple,  earnest  statement  of  gospel  truth ; 
more  profound  discussion  and  artificial  elaboration 
addressed  to  the  learned  few,  and  less  of  warm- 
hearted appeal  to  the  multitude,  may  God  preserve 
us  from  such  adaptation,  for  it  is  high-treason 
against  truth  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  But  if  by 
this  be  meant  a  stronger  intelligence,  a  chaster  com- 
position, a  sterner  logic,  a  more  powerful  rhetoric,  a 
more  correct  criticism,  and  a  more  varied  illustra- 
tion, but  all  employed  to  set  forth  the  gospel  as  com- 
prehending those  two  great  words,  redemption  and 
regeneration,  let  us  have  it ;  we  need  it ;  and  come  in 
ever  such  abundance,  it  will  be  a  blessing. 

"  Adaptation !  the  gospel  is  adaptation,  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  to  every  age  of  time,  and  to  all  con- 
ditions of  humanity.  It  is  God's  own  adaptation.  It 
is  he  who  knows  every  ward  of  the  lock  of  man's 
nature,  who  has  constructed  this  admirable  key  ;  and 
all  the  miserable  tinkering  of  a  vain  and  deceitful 
philosophy  can  make  no  better  key,  nor  can  all  the 
attempts  of  a  philosophizing  theology  make  this  key 
better  fit  the  wards  of  the  lock. 

"Adaptation !  was  not  the  gospel  in  all  its  purity 
and  simplicity  adapted  to  human  nature  as  it  existed 
in  commercial,  scholastic,  philosophical  Corinth? 
And  did  not  Paul  think  so  when  he  determined  to 
know  nothing  there,  but  '  Christ,  and  him  cruci- 
fied ?'  Was  it  not  by  this  very  gospel,  which  many 


502  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

are  beginning  to  imagine  is  not  suited  to  an  intellect- 
ual and  philosophical  age,  that  Christianity  fought  its 
first  battles,  and  achieved  its  victories  over  the  hosts 
of  darkness?  Against  the  axe,  the  stake,  the  sword 
of  the  gladiator,  and  the  lions  of  the  amphitheatre ; 
against  the  ridicule  of  wits,  the  reasoning  of  sages, 
the  interests,  influence,  and  craft  of  the  priesthood ; 
against  the  prowess  of  armies,  and  the  brute  passions 
of  the  mob,  Christianity,  strong  in  its  weakness,  sub- 
lime in  its  simplicity,  potent  in  its  isolation,  asking 
and  receiving  no  protection  from  the  sceptre  of  the 
monarch  or  the  sword  of  the  warrior,  went  forth  to  do 
battle  with  the  wisdom  of  Greece  and  the  mythology 
of  Rome.  Everywhere  it  prevailed,  and  gathered  its 
laurels  from  the  snows  of  Scythia,  the  sands  of  Africa, 
the  plains  of  India,  and  the  green  fields  of  Europe. 
With  the  gospel  alone  she  overturned  the  altars  of 
impiety  in  her  march.  Power  felt  his  arm  wither  at 
her  glance.  She  silenced  the  lying  oracles  by  the 
majesty  of  her  voice,  and  extinguished  the  deceptive 
light  of  philosophy  in  the  schools,  till  at  length  she 
who  went  forth  forlorn  and  weeping  from  Calvary 
to  the  tomb  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  ascended,  upon 
the  ruins  of  the  temples,  the  idols,  and  the  altars  she 
had  demolished,  to  the  throne  of  the  Ca3sars,  and  with 
the  diadem  on  her  brow,  and  the  purple  on  her  shoul- 
ders, gave  laws  to  the  world  from  that  very  tribunal 
where  she  had  been  dragged  as  a  criminal  and  con- 
demned as  a  malefactor.* 

"  Adaptation !   is  not  justification  by  faith   the 

very  substance  of  the  gospel,  and  was  it  not  by  this 

*  See  Dr.  John  M.  Mason's  Funeral  Sermon  for  Mrs.  Graham. 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.          503 

doctrine  that  Luther  effected  the  enfranchisement  of 
^the  human  intellect,  from  the  chains  of  slavery  which 
had  been  forged  in  the  Vatican ;  achieved  the  liber- 
ation of  half  Europe  from  the  yoke  of  Rome,  and  gave 
an  impulse  to  human  thought  and  vital  Christianity 
which  has  not  yet  spent  Itself,  and  never  will,  till  it 
issues  in  the  jubilee  of  the  nations  and  the  glories  of 
the  millennium  ? 

"  Adaptation !  did  not  Whitefield  move  this  king- 
dom almost  to  its  centre,  and  equally  so  our  then 
great  transatlantic  colony  to  its  extremities,  fasci- 
nating alike  the  colliers  of  Kingswood  and  the  citi- 
zens of  the  metropolis ;  and  by  this  mighty  theme 
enable  myriads  to  burst  the  chains  of  sin  and  Satan, 
and  to  walk  abroad  disenthralled  by  the  mighty 
power  of  redeeming  grace  ? 

"  Adaptation !  is  not  this  gospel  now  proving  its 
power  in  heathen  countries  to  raise  the  savage  into 
civilized  man,  the  civilized  man  into  the  saint,  and  in 
this  ascending  scale  of  progression,  the  saint  into  the 
seraph  ? 

"  And  yet,  with  these  proofs  of  the  power  of  the 
gospel  to  adapt  itself  to  every  age  of  the  world,  and 
to  every  condition  of  humanity,  there  are  those  who 
want  something  else  to  effect  the  regeneration  of 
mankind.  'And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all 
men  unto  me.'  So  said  the  Saviour  of  men.  The 
cross  is  the  great  moral  magnet  for  all  ages  and  all 
countries,  to  draw  men  from  barbarism  to  civiliza- 
tion, from  sin  to  holiness,  from  misery  to  happiness, 
and  from  earth  to  heaven  ;  and  it  were  as  rational  to 
say  the  loadstone  had  lost  its  original  power  of  polar 


504:  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

attraction,  and  the  mariner's  compass  is  an  old,  stale 
invention,  and  must  now  be  replaced  with  some  new 
device,  better  adapted  to  the  modern  light  of  science, 
as  to  suppose  that  the  doctrine  of  the  cross  had  be- 
come effete,  and  must  give  way  to  some  new  phase  of 
theological  truth. 

"  I  now  consider  the  manner  in  which  Whitefield 
carried  out  his  own  purpose  into  action.  '  One  thing 
I  do :;  and  how  did  he  accomplish  it  ? 

"  Never  was  the  joyful  sound  sent  over  the  world 
by  a  more  magnificent  voice.  All  his  biographers 
labor,  as  do  the  historians  of  Greece  in  describing  the 
power  of  Demosthenes,  to  make  us  understand  his 
wondrous  oratory.  Perhaps,  after  all,  that  which 
gives  us  the  most  vivid  idea  of  it  is,  not  the  crowds 
it  attracted,  moved,  and  melted,  but  that  it  warmed 
the  cold  and  calculating  Franklin,  and  fascinated  the 
philosophical  and  sceptical  Hume.  Heaven  rarely 
ever  gave,  or  gives  to  man  the  faculty  of  speech  in 
such  perfection.  But  what  is  particularly  worthy  of 
notice  is,  that  he  trusted  not  to  its  native  power,  but 
increased  that  power  by  assiduous  cultivation.  His 
matchless  elocution  was  not  only  an  endowment,  but 
an  acquirement.  If  he  preached  a  sermon  twenty 
times,  he  went  on  to  the  last  improving  his  method  of 
delivering  it,  both  as  to  tones  and  action  ;  not  for 
theatrical  display — no  man  was  ever  more  free  from 
this — but  to  carry  out  his  '  one  thing ' — the  salvation 
of  sends.  He  knew,  and  deeply  and  philosophically 
entered  into  the  meaning  of  that  text, '  Faith  cometh 
by  hearing ;'  and  he  also  knew  that  attentive  hearing 
comes  by  the  power  of  speaking.  With  such  a  theme 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMOEATIONS.          505 

as  the  gospel,  with  such  an  object  as  salvation,  with 
such  an  aim  as  eternity,  and  such  a  Master  to  serve 
as  Christ,  he  would  not  give  utterance  to  such  sub- 
jects, and  for  such  purposes,  in  careless  and  slovenly 
speech.  He  studied  to  be  the  orator,  that  he  might 
thus  pluck  souls  as  brands  from  the  burning.  In  this 
let  us  imitate  him.  Of  all  our  faculties,  that  of  speech 
is  perhaps  least  cultivated,  yet  is  most  susceptible  of 
cultivation,  and  pays  best  for  the  pains  bestowed  upon 
it.  My  brethren,  speech  is  the  great  instrument  of 
our  ministerial  labor.  Our  assault  upon  the  rebel 
town  of  Mansoul  is  to  be  carried  on,  and  our  entrance 
to  be  effected,  to  use  the  language  of  Bunyan,  at  ear- 
gate.  The  tongue,  rather  than  the  pen,  is  the  weapon 
of  most  of  us.  For  the  love  of  souls,  let  us  endeavor 
to  be  good  speakers.  With  the  loftiest  themes  in  the 
universe  for  our  subjects,  do,  do  let  us  endeavor  to 
speak  of  them  in  some  measure  worthily.  It  is  an 
instructive  and  astounding,  and  to  us  humiliating  and 
disgraceful  fact,  that  the  stage-player,  whether  in 
comedy  or  in  tragedy,  takes  ten  times  more  pains  to 
give  effective  utterance  to  his  follies,  vices,  and  pas- 
sions, for  the  amusement  of  his  audience,  than  we  do 
to  eternal  and 'momentous  truths  for  the  salvation  of 
ours.  The  stage  seems  the  only  arena  where  the 
power  of  oratory  is  much  studied.  Should  this  be  ? 

"A  few  characteristics  of  Whitefield's  manner  de- 
serve emphatic  mention  and  particular  attention,  as 
connected  with  the  execution  of  his  one  great  purpose. 
The  first  I  notice  is  solemnity.  He  never,  as  did  some 
of  his  followers,  degraded  the  pulpit  by  making  it  the 
arena  of  low  humor  and  wit ;  abounding  in  anecdote, 

Whitefield.  22 


506  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

and  even  in  action,  he  was  uniformly  solemn.  His 
deep  devotional  spirit  contributed  largely  to  this,  for 
his  piety  was  the  inward  fire  which  supplied  the  ardor 
of  his  manner.  He  was  eminently  a  man  of  prayer  ; 
and  had  he  been  less  prayerful,  he  would  also  have 
been  less  powerful.  He  came  into  the  pulpit  from  the 
closet,  where  he  had  been  communing  with  God,  and 
could  no  more  trifle  with  merry  humor  at  such  a  time 
than  could  Moses  when  he  came  down  from  the  mount 
to  the  people  ;  or  than  the  high-priest  when  he  came 
out  from  the  blazing  symbols  of  the  divine  presence 
between  the  cherubim  in  the  holy  of  holies ;  or  Isaiah 
when  he  saw  the  Lord  of  hosts,  high  and  lifted  up, 
with  his  train  filling  the  temple.  .Happily  the  age 
and  taste  for  pulpit  buffoonery  is  gone,  I  hope  never 
to  return. 

'  T  is  pitiful  to  count  a  gain  when  you  should  woo  a  soul.' 

It  was  the  stamp  and  impress  of  eternity  upon  his 
preaching,  that  gave  Whitefield  such  power.  He  spoke 
like  a  man  that  stood  upon  the  borders  of  the  unseen 
world,  alternately  rapt  in  ecstasy  as  he  gazed  upon 
the  felicities  of  heaven,  and  convulsed  with  terror  as 
he  seemed  to  hear  the  howlings  of  the  damned,  and 
saw  the  smoke  of  their  torment  ascending  from  the 
pit  for  ever  and  ever.  His  maxim  was  to  preach,  as 
Apelles  painted,  for  eternity,  and  he  said,  if  ministers 
preached  for  eternity,  they  would  then  act  the  part  of 
true  Christian  orators.  And  tell  me,  my  brethren, 
what  are  all  the  prettinesses,  the  beauties,  or  even 
sublimities  of  human  eloquence — what  the  similes, 
metaphors,  and  other  garniture  of  rhetoric — what  the 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.  50T 

philosophy  and  intellectualities  which  many  in  this 
day  are  aiming  at,  to  move  and  bow  and  conquer 
the  human  soul,  compared  with  'the  powers  of  the 
world  to  come?' 

"  But  there  was  another  characteristic  of  White- 
field's  manner,  and  that  was  its  tenderness.  Our  Lord, 
as  to  his  humanity,  was  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  there- 
fore of  tears ;  so  was  Paul,  so  was  Whitefield.  Per- 
haps the  latter  somewhat  too  much  so,  at  any  rate  far 
too  much  so  for  any  preacher  but  himself,  and  with 
him  the  fountain  of  his  tears  was  somewhat  too  full 
and  flowing.  But  *0h,  what  an  apology  for  this,  and 
what  a  stroke  of  pathetic  eloquence  was  that  appeal 
when  on  one  occasion  he  said,  'You  blame  me  for 
weeping,  but  how  can  I  help  it,  when  you  will  not 
weep  for  yourselves,  although  your  immortal  souls 
are  on  the  verge  of  destruction,  and  for  aught  I  know 
you  are  hearing  your  last  sermon,  and  may  never  more 
have  an  opportunity  to  have  Christ  offered  to  you.' 
Man  is  an  emotional  as  well  as  an  intellectual  crea- 
ture, and  sympathy  is  one  of  the  powers  of  our  physi- 
cal and  mental  economy.  The  passions  are  of  an 
infectious  nature,  and  men  feel  more  in  a  crowd  than 
in  solitude.  The  adage  of  the  ancient  elocutionist  is 
still  true,  '  If  you  wish  me  to  weep,  weep  yourself.' 
Whitefield's  tears  drew  forth  those  of  his  audience, 
and  his  pathos  softened  their  hearts  for  the  impres- 
sions of  the  truth.  It  is  forgotten  by  many  preachers 
that  they  may  do  much  by  the  heart,  as  well  as  by  the 
head.  We  are  not  the  teachers  of  logic,  mathematics, 
metaphysics,  or  natural  philosophy,  which  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  the  heart,  but  of  religion,  the  very  seat 


508  GEORGE  WEITEFIELD. 

of  which  is  there  ;  and  we  address  ourselves  not  only 
to  the  logical,  but  to  the  aesthetical  part  of  man's 
complex  nature.  By  argument,  I  know  we  must  con- 
vince, but  we  must  not  stop  in  the  judgment,  but  go 
on  to  reach  the  heart,  and  we  ourselves  must  feel  as 
well  as  reason.  Clear,  but  cold,  is  too  descriptive  of 
much  modern  preaching.  It  is  the  frosty  moonlight 
of  a  winter's  night,  not  the  warm  sunshine  of  a  sum- 
mer's day.  A  cold  preacher  is  likely  to  have  cold 
hearers.  Cold !  What,  when  the  love  of  God,  the 
death  of  Christ,  the  salvation  of  ^souls,  the  felicities 
of  heaven,  and  the  torments  of  hell  are  the  theme  ? 
Enthusiasm  here  is  venial,  compared  'with  lukewarm- 
ness. 

"  Need  I  say  that  earnestness  was  characteristic  of 
Whitefield's  preaching  ?  Yes,  that  one  word,  perhaps, 
more  than  any  other  in  our  language,  is  its  epitome. 
An  intense  earnestness  marked  its  whole  career,  and 
was  carried  to  such  a  pitch  as  to  subject  him,  as  did 
that  of  Paul,  to  the  imputation  of  madness.  The  sal- 
vation of  souls  was  so  entirely  the  one  thing  that 
engrossed  his  soul,  his  time,  his  labors,  that  not  a  step 
deviated  from  it.  Every  moment,  every  day,  was  an 
approximation  to  it.  His  devotions,  his  recreations, 
if  any  such  he  had,  his  journeys,  his  voyages,  his  ser- 
mons, his  correspondence,  were  all  referred  to  this 
one  end.  His  exertions  never  relaxed  for  a  moment, 
and  he,  with  his  great  compeer  Wesley,  made  the 
trial  so  seldom  made,  what  is  the  utmost  effect  which, 
in  the  way  of  saving  souls,  may  be  granted  to  any  one 
preacher  of  the  gospel  in  any  age  or  country. 

"  What  may  not  be  done,  and  is  not  done  by  ear- 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.  509 

nestness?  It  gives  some  success  to  any  error,  how- 
ever absurd  or  enormous,  and  to  any  scheme  of  wick- 
edness, however  flagrant  and  atrocious.  What  is  it 
that  has  given  such  success  to  popery,  to  infidelity,  to 
Mormonism?  Earnestness.  And  shall  the  apostles 
and  advocates  of  error  be  more  in  earnest  than  the 
friends  of  truth  ?  Whitefield  often  quoted  Betterton 
the  player,  who  affirmed  that  the  stage  would  soon  be 
deserted  if  the  actors  spoke  like  the  preachers.  And 
what  would  empty  the  play-house,  that  is,  dulness  and 
coldness,  does  often  empty  the  meeting-house.  'Mr. 
Betterton's  answer  to  a  worthy  prelate/  says  White- 
field,  '  is  worthy  of  lasting  regard.  When  asked  how 
it  is  that  the  clergy,  who  speak  of  things  real,  affected 
the  people  so  little,  and  the  players,  who  speak  only 
of  things  imaginary,  affected  them  so  much,  replied. 
'  My  lord,  I  can  assign  but  one  reason — we  players 
speak  of  things  imaginary  as  though  they  were  real, 
and  too  many  of  the  clergy  speak  of  things  real  as 
though  they  were  imaginary.'  It  is  not  always  so. 
Many  a  preacher,  even  in  our  own  day,  by  the  unaf- 
fected earnestness  of  his  manner,  carries  away  his 
audience  upon  the  tide  of  his  own  feeling.  They  hear 
what  he  says,  they  see  what  he  feels,  his  eye  helps  his 
tongue,  the  workings  of  his  countenance  disclose  the 
feelings  of  his  heart ;  his  manner  is  a  lucid  comment 
upon  his  matter,  breaks  down  the  limits  which  words 
impose  upon  the  communication  of  ideas,  and  gives 
them  not  only  an  apprehension  of  the  meaning,  but  a 
sense  of  the  importance  of  his  subject,  which  unimpas- 
sioned  language  and  manner  could  not  have  done. 
"  I  name  but  one  thing  more  as  characteristic  of 
22* 


510  ,          GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

this  great  man,  and  which  it  would  be  well  for  us  to 
imitate,  and  that  is,  his  dauntless  courage.     See  him  not 
only  facing  mobs,  defying  threats,  and  even  lifting  up 
his  pulpit  amid  the  wild  uproar  of  a  London  fair,  the 
boldest  achievement  that  a  speaker  ever  accomplished, 
but  holding  on  his  noble  career  unterrified,  and  work- 
ing amid  the  storm  of  obloquy  that  came  upon  him 
from  so  many  quarters.     Who  that  has  ever  read,  can 
ever  forget  Cowper's  exquisite  description  of  him  ? 
" '  LEUCONOMUS — beneath  well-sounding  Greek 
I  show  a  name  a  poet  must  not  speak — 
Stood  pilloried  on  infamy's  high  stage, 
And  bore  the  pelting  storm  of  half  an  age, 
The  very  butt  of  slander,  and  the  blot 
For  every  dart  that  malice  ever  shot. 
The  man  that  mentioned  him  at  once  dismissed 
All  mercy  from  his  lips,  and  sneered  and  hissed. 
His  crimes  were  such  as  Sodom  never  knew, 
And  perjury  stood  up  to  swear  all  true  ; 
His  aim  was  mischief,  and  his  zeal  pretence, 
His  speech  rebellion  against  common-sense  : 
A  knave  when  tried  on  honesty's  plain  rule, 
And  when  by  that  of  reason,  a  mere  fool. 
The  world's  best  comfort  was,  his  doom  was  passed, 
Die  when  he  might,  he  must  be  damned  at  last. 
Now  truth,  perform  thine  office,  waft  aside 
The  curtain  drawn  by  prejudice  and  pride, 
Reveal — the  man  is  dead — to  wondering  eyes, 
This  more  than  monster,  in  his  proper  guise. 
He  loved  the  world  that  hated  him ;  the  tear 
That  dropped  upon  his  Bible  was  sincere : 
Assailed  by  scandal  and  the  tongue  of  strife, 
His  only  answer  was — a  blameless  life ; 
And  he  that  forged,  and  he  that  threw  the  dart, 
Had  each  a  brother's  interest  in  his  heart. 
Paul's  love  of  Christ,  and  steadiness  unbribed,         x 
Were  copied  close  in  him,  and  well  transcribed. 


CENTENNIAL  COMMEMORATIONS.          511 

He  followed  Paul — his  zeal  a  kindred  flame, 

His  apostolic  charity  the  same. 

Like  him,  crossed  cheerfully  tempestuous  seas, 

Forsaking  country,  kindred,  friends,  and  ease. 

Like  him  he  labored,  and  like  him,  content 

To  bear  it,  suffered  shame  where'er  he  went. 

Blush,  calumny !  and  write  upon  his  tomb, 

If  honest  eulogy  can  spare  the  room, 

Thy  deep  repentance  of  thy  thousand  lies, 

Which,  aimed  at  him,  have  pierced  the  offended  skies ; 

And  say,  Blot  out  my  sin,  confessed,  deplored, 

Against  thine  image,  in  thy  saint,  0  Lord.' 

"  What  but  a  guilty  cowardice  is  it,  a  false  and 
pusillanimous  shame,  that  keeps  us  in  these  days  from 
some  novel  and  bolder  method  of  aggression  upon  the 
domain  of  darkness?  Are  we  not  wanting  here  in 
that  moral  courage  which  would  make  us,  when  con- 
scious of  doing  right,  indifferent  to  the  stare  of  the 
ignorant,  and  the  wonder  of  the  timid ;  to  the  shaft 
of  ridicule,  and  the  malignant  censure  of  the  cynic  ? 
How  enslaved  are  we  by  the  fetters  of  custom,  or  re- 
strained by  the  trammels  of  conventiality !  How  lit- 
tle are  we  disposed  to  go  out  of  the  usual  track,  even 
in  saving  souls !  Very  few  are  disposed  to  imitate 
the  boldness,  ingenuity,  and  novelty  of  that  noble- 
hearted  brother,*  who  hired  a  disengaged  theatre  in 
the  city  where  he  dwelt,  and  for  four  months  preached 
there  to  listening  and  well-behaved  crowds,  the  gospel 
of  salvation  ;  and  for  his  reward  had  very  many  given 
to  him,  who  are  his  joy  now,  and  will  be  his  crown  of 
rejoicing  in  the  presence  of  Christ  at  his  coming. 
Who  can  see  Paul  on  Mars-Hill,  addressing  himself 

*  The  Rev.  Richard  Knill  of  Chester,  formerly  a  missionary  in 
India,  and  afterwards  in  Russia,  since  deceased. — B. 


512  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

to  the  sages  and  their  followers  of  all  sects,  and 
preaching  to  them  a  doctrine  so  repugnant  to  the 
mythology  of  the  temple  and  the  philosophy  of  the 
schools,  as  Christ,  the  last  judgment,  and  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body,  without  being  impressed  with  the 
moral  courage  of  such  an  act?  It  is  this  spiritual 
heroism  that  is  wanted  in  our  modern  preaching,  and 
indeed,  which  was  no  less  needful  when  the  Method- 
istic  company  commenced  their  preaching. 

"  Nor  is  it  only  in  this  unwillingness  to  go  off  from 
our  own  ground  for  saving  souls  that  our  guilty  cow- 
ardice is  seen,  but  in  the  disposition  to  shirk  the  more 
solemn  and  searching  truths  of  revelation.  Are  we 
not  giving  way  too  much  to  the  fastidiousness  of 
modern  taste  and  refinement,  which  is  craving  after 
smooth  things ;  which  desires  the  sentimental,  the 
picturesque,  the  imaginative,  but  turns  with  disgust 
from  the  solemn,  the  alarming,  the  awakening  ?  Are 
we  not  too  gentle  and  courteous  to  mention  such  a 
word  as  '  hell '  to  modern  ears  polite  ?  Are  we  not 
too  fearful  to  break  in  with  the  thunders  of  a  violated 
law  upon  those  who  are  at  ease  in  Zion?  I  do  not 
ask  for  a  gross,  revolting  method  of  describing  the 
punishment  of  the  wicked,  as  if  the  preacher  delighted 
in  harrowing  up  the  feelings  of  his  audience.  This  is 
as  disgusting  as  if,  in  order  to  keep  men  from  crime, 
our  judges  and  magistrates  were  ever  and  anon  giving 
a  minute  detail  of  the  process  of  an  execution,  and  the 
convulsive  pangs  of  an  expiring  wretch  suspended  to 
the  beam  of  the  gibbet.  We  ask  not  for  a  harsh, 
scolding,  and  denunciating  style  of  preaching  ;  but 
we  do  want  more  of  the  unflinching  boldness,  and  the 


CENTENNIAL' COMMEMORATIONS.          513 

dauntless  courage,  which  are  necessary  to  fidelity, 
and  absolutely  essential  to  him  who  would  win  souls 
to  Christ.  It  is  too  generally  forgotten,  that  our 
Lord  Jesus,  who  was  incarnate  love,  was  the  most 
solemn  and  awful  of  all  preachers.  He  whose  gentle 
spirit  so  often  breathed  out  itself  in  invitation,  and 
whose  compassion  melted  into  tears,  at  other  times 
robed  himself  in  terror,  and  uttered  the  most  alarm- 
ing peals  of  divine  indignation.  What  we  need  for 
our  ministry  is  this  mixture  of  tenderness  and  solem- 
nity, which  entered  so  deeply  into  the  ministry  of 
Christ,  and  was  so  characteristic  of  his  servant,  whose 
labors  we  this  day  commemorate  and  commend." 

Hear  also  the  Rev.  John  Glanville,  the  present 
successor  of  Whitefield  in  the  Tabernacle  at  Bristol : 
"  And  such  preaching  must  continue,  if  the  world  is  to 
be  saved.  Nothing  but  this  is  suited  to  man's  neces- 
sities; nothing  else  can  meet  man's  miseries.  The 
battle  must  be  fought  with  the  old,  well-tried,  but  not 
worn-out  weapons.  God  has  provided  them,  and  we 
must  use  them.  We  require  nothing  else ;  the  world 
has  not  outgrown  the  old  gospel,  so  as  to  need  some- 
thing new  to  soothe  its  sorrows  and  satisfy  its  wants. 

"Not  that  ministers  can  now  produce  the  effect 
Whitefield  did.  He  was  a  man  standing  alone.  The 
charm  and  power  of  his  preaching  have  never  been 
explained.  It  was  all  fire  and  flame,  shooting  out 
red-hot  thunderbolts  against  the  citadels  of  sin.  It 
was  an  undivided  soul,  solemnly  consecrated  to  one 
object — an  entire  life,  zealously  employed  in  one  thing. 
As  he  preached,  every  feature  spoke,  the  whole  man 


5H  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

became  vocal,  and  the  truth  of  God  stood  out  in  its  full 
proportions  and  beauty,  in  the  bright  and  broad  day- 
light of  heaven.  So  unreserved  was  his  self-consecra- 
tion, that  every  thing  was  deemed  impertinent  which 
obtruded  upon,  or  interfered  with  the  one  great  end 
of  his  existence.  He  lived  in  communion  with  God — • 
more  in  heaven  than  on  earth.  He  was  much  at  the 
foot  of  the  throne,  and  got  his  strength  there;  he 
prevailed  with  men,  because  he  had  prevailed  with 
God.  His  whole  soul  was  filled  with  life,  and  fired 
with  love,  from  being  in  habitual  contact  with  the 
cross. 

"  And  we  must  pursue  the  same  course,  and  try  to 
do  the  same  thing.  We  have  the  power,  and  we  must 
bring  it  forth  and  use  it.  God  has  given  the  machin- 
ery, and  it  is  for  us  to  set  it  in  motion.  The  world 
is  perishing,  and  we  must  save  it ;  it  is  dying,  and  we 
must  give  it  life.  God  from  his  eternal  throne  calls 
us — Christ  from  his  bleeding  cross  speaks  to  us — 
voices  from  the  abodes  of  sin,  and  the  regions  of  de- 
spair, sound  in  our  ears.  And  we  all,  as  ministers 
and  as  members,  must  rise  up  in  the  vigor  of  piety 
and  the  fervor  of  prayer.  We  must  rise  up  from  the 
slumbers  of  selfishness,  and  tear  off  the  fetters  of  the 
world,  and  act  as  those  who  believe  in  'the  existence 
of  an  eternal  heaven  and  an  eternal  hell,  and  that  all 
souls  will  be  found  in  the  one  or  in  the  other — as 
those  who  have  a  great  work  to  do,  and  but  a  short 
and  uncertain  time  to  do  it  in.  Awake,  awake,  put 
on  strength,  0  arm  of  the  Lord ;  awake,  as  in  the 
ancient  days,  in  the  generations  of  old." 


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